By: Ashley Quintela Valle
Wildewood Elementary kindergarten teacher Cindy Kiper of Omaha is the bright spot of her students’ day — literally.
With vibrant colored hair and a passion for education, Kiper is teaching her students the importance of voting.
Every six weeks, Kiper allows her class to vote on her next hair color as a way to show her students that every vote counts.
“It’s important to have your voice heard,” she tells her students.
The tradition started six years ago, Kiper said, when her class came up with the idea.
“It’s really fun,” Kiper said. “I enjoy it and the kids love it.”
From green and yellow to orange and even rainbow, Kiper has worn it all.
“I’m known for my color hair here,” she said. “At Wildewood, they all know it’s going to be a different color. If not, they think something is wrong with me.”
After the students vote, Kiper goes to a hair salon to get it professionally colored and ready for the unveiling.
Watching students light up when they see her freshly-colored hair is her favorite part, Kiper said.
“It’s astonishing to see them in the morning,” she said. “Their little faces are so surprised.”
This year, her hair has been green, white and is currently blue. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, she said, she is hoping they don’t vote for red.
Hair color isn’t the only decision her class gets to vote on, Kiper said.
They also get to vote on how to spend recess time on rainy days, trips outside and even Ralston and Omaha politics.
When it’s time for the city to elect Ralston and Omaha officials, Kiper encourages her class to make their own decision.
After discussing candidate information, the class votes on who they want to lead their city. Sometimes, Kiper said, it doesn’t align with Ralston voters.
Kiper always reminds her students it’s OK to not agree with everyone else and just by voting, “you’re helping your community by being part of that process and learning to be a well-rounded and respected person in the community,” she said.
By instituting democracy into her classroom, Kiper said she hopes her students not only grasp the idea of democracy, but go on to vote when they are grown.
“They understand voting pretty well when I’m done,” she said. “I’m hoping to groom voters for the future.”
