Congressman Tim Bishop and James Viola (Director of Government Relations for the School Administrators Association) paid a special visit to the Roanoke Avenue Elementary School on Monday, May 5. RCSD Superintendent Nancy Carney and Roanoke Avenue Principal Thomas Payton were there to greet and speak with Bishop as well.
Payton noted, “I am the NYS representative for the National Association of Elementary Principals and I had an advocacy visit with one of Congressman Bishop’s staff members in Washington, DC while I was at a National Leaders’ Conference in February. I invited Congressman Bishop, through his representative, during that event to come visit Roanoke, and I’m very excited that Mr. Bishop took me up on my invitation.”
Congressman Tim Bishop met with Roanoke Avenue Student Council advisor Amy Fideli and student representatives of both the Fall and Spring Student Councils. The students asked Bishop questions prior to a light breakfast in the library.
Students asked Bishop about what it was like being a congressman. Bishop represents New York’s First Congressional District which spans the eastern end of Long Island from Smithtown to Montauk Point. A lifelong resident of the area, he was first elected to Congress in 2002.
He answered, “It’s a very busy job. You learn to do a wide variety of things in 15 minute segments. Even though I don’t get to be with my family as much as I’d like, it is a very gratifying opportunity to work with and for families just like yours.”
“Have you met any celebrities?” asked one young man.
“By celebrities, who did you have in mind?” Bishop asked.
“Justin Bieber or Justin Timberlake,” came a quick answer.
“Well, no I haven’t met either of them, but I have met President Obama,” replied Bishop.
Congressman Bishop explained to the students that his priorities in Congress include the economy, veterans’ affairs, the environment, education and health care. He noted that he is a member of the House Education and Workforce Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, serving as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
After visiting with Student Council members, Bishop and Viola stopped briefly in a variety of classrooms at the Roanoke Avenue Elementary School: an ELL classroom, a reading group, and three other regular classrooms.
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