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Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting my representative, Congressman Kevin Yoder from the 3rd district in Kansas, and a few members of his staff. To begin with, Rep. Yoder was extremely kind to take the time to meet with me. It is a testament to our representative government that he and his staff went out of their way to get to know my interests, hear about my experience in D.C. this summer, and offer to help and connect me in any way they could. I was impressed with the level of concern both for me as an individual and for my area. Sitting in a Congressional office makes you realize how intensely focused a Congressman must be on the needs of his or her district, requiring everything from reflecting their constituents’ policy interests to meeting with individual students who are spending the summer in the Capitol.

Coming away from the meeting, however, I couldn’t help reflecting on the unique landscape of my district and how that relates to education and Rep. Yoder. The 3rd district encompasses Kansas City, the largest urban area in the state, and the surrounding suburbs. Consequently, a representative of the area has to balance the often contrasting needs of an urban area and a more affluent suburban area. Nowhere is this more evident than in education.

Comparing Johnson County and Wyandotte County gives a clear picture of the contradictory nature of the district. Wyandotte County, where Kansas City, KS is located, has an annual per capita income of $17,750 and large minority populations. The Kansas City School District, where 89% of students are classified as “economically disadvantaged” on their website, has often received negative attention for low achievement- the high-school graduation rate was just 62% in the 2011 school year. The reality in next-door Johnson County is far different. The suburban county has an annual per capita income of $35,492, and students benefit from attending some of the top public schools in the state.

I am a life-long resident of Johnson County and a proud graduate of the public school system. My high school routinely sends students to the top universities in the nation, offers both a variety of AP classes and a strong IB program, and has wonderful extracurricular and sports programs. Yet I consider myself a native of Kansas City, not just my suburb, and as such, I am deeply troubled by the inequalities I see in educational opportunities. Realizing that not all children have access to the kind of education I received is what initially sparked my passion for education reform.

All children, regardless of their zip code, deserve a high-quality education. All children, regardless of their socioeconomic status, have the ability to succeed if placed in the right environment. I hope that our Congressman and all policymakers work hard to create this environment and move toward making the success of ALL students a reality because, after all, our government functions on the principal of representing the well-being of each and every constituent.

Annie Bennett is a rising senior at Vanderbilt University majoring in Public Policy. She is originally from Kansas City, and we’re excited she’s working with the Center for Education Reform as an intern this summer.