Campaigns Close Up

A Virginia educator’s political activism helps turn high school into Campaign ‘08 hot spot

by Tim Walker

This past Saturday, Dominic Melito, a social studies teacher from Virginia Beach, Virginia, was elected to be a delegate for Senator Hillary Clinton at the Democratic National Convention in August. For Melito, just one of many NEA members who will be delegates this summer, political activism is a natural extension of his work as a social studies teacher and union member. Melito has served as the vice chair of the Virginia Beach Democratic Party but his involvement in local and state politics, however, only picked up steam in the last few years as the Virginia Democratic Party revitalized itself throughout the state. Virginia Beach is a longstanding GOP stronghold, but Tim Kaine’s successful campaign for governor in 2005 helped reenergize local and state activists, whose work has led many national political analysts to identify Virginia as a crucial swing state this November.

Melito, as the incoming president of the Virginia Beach Education Association , is giving up his official duties in the local party, but he will still be using his new role to further the political goals of the association.

His activism over the past few years will also continue to pay dividends at Kellam High School, where Melito has taught Government for 16 years.

 “When you’ve actually participated in the political process,” he says, “the experience enhances how you teach Government. Teachers know how the process works, but when you’ve seen it up close and gotten to know some of the players, it brings a fresh perspective.”

Melito has leveraged his political connections to bring the excitement of campaigning and civic engagement to his school. Kellam High has been a common site for candidate debates and forums, which have helped register 90 percent of all seniors at the school to vote and many to volunteer for fall campaigns.

“When you’re actually able to bring campaigns into the school, regardless of the political party, it generates excitement,” he says. “It means a lot for students who are about to vote for the first time to see and hear candidates. They’re not just faces on the TV or voices on the radio.”

Melito believes it is the job of educators to do all they can to engage students in a process that is not only crucial but also potentially very exciting.

“Hopefully I’ve helped generate interest in the political process at Kellam. What my students do with that and how they choose to vote – that’s up to them of course. But if they think political activism is relevant to their lives, we’ve done our job.”