Peyton Plescher deposits her ballot into Landeck Elementary School’s mock election ballot box.

First-grade teacher Sue Barclay, who has taught at Landeck for 8 years, held the school’s first mock Presidential Election 4 years ago. She believes and teaches her students that everyone has their own voice and it is their right to speak up.

“The first time we did it,” Barclay reflected back, “McCain won. Today, Romney won 92 to Obama’s 34.”

The mock election has served as a catalyst for a variety of classroom learning activities. Barclay ties her Social Studies lessons to the historical value of the election process.