Spartans Attend the Texas Tribune Festival

A dozen St. Stephen’s juniors and seniors recently walked away from a political and public policy event in downtown Austin with a new perspective on civic engagement. The twelve Spartans are part of “Citizen U,” a fall social science seminar for juniors and seniors studying the 2024 election cycle and civil discourse taught by History Instructor Shelley Sallee, who accompanied the students at the festival. The annual event is hosted by The Texas Tribune, an Austin-based independent news agency that aims to promote civic engagement through original, explanatory journalism and public events.

The three-day festival brings together politicians, journalists, policy experts and authors, and coincides with St. Stephen’s Upper School curriculum focusing on electoral politics and civic engagement. Charles Navarre ’26 thought he would hear “partisan speeches and divisive ideas,” but said he found many people concerned with “the betterment of America.” 

The students also had the opportunity to learn from Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) during a standing-room-only breakfast session. Moore shared how his commitment to making government work better stemmed from losing his father when he was a child. He said he believes his father’s death was the result of a failed system. 

Students also met Texas Tribune co-founder and St. Stephen’s Board of Trustees member Evan Smith P ’19 P ’15. Smith helped students snap a photo with Gov. Moore before he dashed off to the Paramount Theatre to be interviewed by NPR journalist and correspondent Michel Martin.  

Students had the opportunity to attend a number of sessions throughout the Festival and some had a chance to ask panelists questions. During a session with United States Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Ben Patrick ’25 asked McCaul a question about Texas abortion bans, and Nicholas Prieto ’25 asked a question during “The Future of Local Control” panel discussion.

St. Stephen’s students were present for the important announcement when Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) announced her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, joined her endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for President. 

The student’s main takeaway was valuable information and deep relevance for what they are learning in the classroom. Libby Miller ’25 said her favorite session was the “Public Education and the 89th Legislature” where a heated exchange occurred about school vouchers. 

Overall, students said the festival changed their outlook on Texas politics and public policy. 

Miller, who admits politics has always depressed her, found optimism in the Tribune Festival’s “positive outlook on our country’s fate despite the rather downtrodden atmosphere most Americans seem to have about what’s going on.”

“The fest was an intellectual bubble where everyone's opinions were respected,” said Basil Baldwin ’26, immediately following the experience.