Chris Pyle

NASHUA – Hollis Brookline eighth-grader Chris Pyle will soon get the experience of serving as New Hampshire governor … at least for a day.

Pyle recently learned he was chosen by Gov. Chris Sununu to be the 2019 Governor for a Day. He will join Sununu at the State House in Concord on June 3 for a day full of different learning experiences.

The program began last year with the goal of fostering civic education and promoting youth participation. Last year, the competition was open to girls in middle school and high school, in partnership with Girls Inc., Girl Scouts and Granite State Girls, to provide a unique opportunity to participate in public service.

This year, the competition was open to all middle and high school students across the state. Similar to last year, applicants were required to submit an essay of 250-500 words to complete the sentence, “If I were Governor for a Day I would…”

As noted in a congratulatory letter to Pyle from Sununu, Pyle’s essay was chosen among others because of its innovative, forward-looking approach.

Sununu wrote in his letter addressed to Pyle, “To make our state run smoothly, we need thoughtful students like yourself to engage these issues in your communities by running for class council or student government, and we need citizens like you to engage in town politics by

attending local elections and town meetings.”

Later in the letter, Sununu added, “The passion for public service displayed in your application will continue to grow if you stay educated on current issues and pursue opportunities to engage with them in your school, your town and your state.”

Pyle wrote that if he were governor, he would improve technological education in school systems, specifically in kindergarten through 12th grade. If governor, Pyle said, he would integrate more technology into the classroom.

“I think it’s really important that we teach the youth how to adapt to technology,” Pyle told The Telegraph.

Pyle said as the world progresses toward more technology-based jobs, it is important for students to be able to pick up a new piece of technology and adapt to it fast.

In his letter to Pyle, Sununu said he shares the passion for strengthening technological education in New Hampshire schools.

“Just last year, I signed HB 1674 into law, which adds computer science as a core component of K-12 education in New Hampshire,” Sununu said. “I continue to champion programs such as Learn Everywhere initiatives, which provide our students with the tools to pursue an education suited for the needs of the 21st century.”

Pyle said he is very excited to visit the State House and learn what about what Sununu does.

“Chris will go on to do big things in life. I would not be surprised if he really is governor some day,”Hollis Brookline Middle School Principal Bob Thompson said.

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