Casten Celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week with a Visit to “Rock-Star” 5th Grade Class Responsible for IL Law Naming Dolostone Illinois’ First State Rock
Burr Ridge, IL (May 5, 2022) -- Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) visited Jennifer Lauermann and her 5th grade class at Pleasantdale Middle School to congratulate the students on their successful effort to give Illinois an official state rock.
During his visit, Congressman Casten celebrated the success of the 5th graders' advocacy work, discussed how a bill becomes a law, and heard from the students in a Q&A on topics ranging from favorite rocks and what it's like to work in Washington D.C. to what inspired them to focus on the state rock.
Congressman Casten said, "When a "rock"-star 5th-grade class and science teacher discovered Illinois has no state rock last May, they conducted research, held an election, and recommended the Dolostone to be named as Illinois' first State Rock. One year later, I had the honor of spending Teacher Appreciation Day visiting Ms. Lauermann and her class to congratulate them on their success after the Illinois State Assembly passed legislation to do exactly that. On such a grim week for America, spending time with incredible teachers and students so committed to science and to democracy gives me immense hope."
Ms. Lauermann's class spent this past year studying rocks and meeting with geologists and other scientists throughout Illinois. When they discovered that Illinois did not have a state rock, they began an effort to officially choose a state rock. The students conducted a survey between Sandstone, Limestone, and Dolostone with over 1,200 people participating. Congressman Casten voted for Limestone, encouraged his Twitter followers to get involved, and reached out to Ms. Lauermann and her class. The Pleasantdale class officially recommended the winner, Dolostone, to be the new state rock, and urged Illinois and federal lawmakers to support their election.
Months after Rep. Casten spoke on the House floor (watch here) recognizing Ms. Lauermann's Rock-Star class, both houses of the Illinois General Assembly passed a proposal to make the Dolostone Illinois' first state rock and sent it to Governor Pritzker on April 19th to be signed into law.
