SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- Students at Central Park Middle School were in the middle of learning about the Constitution when they heard about the school shooting in Parkland, Fla. That’s when their teacher had the idea to teach using current events. 

Students were told to pick a lawmaker to write to about gun violence. Some wrote to President Donald Trump or Governor Andrew Cuomo, but some picked Assemblyman Phil Steck.

After receiving the letters, Steck says he wanted to come in and meet with students. He fielded questions about things like metal detectors, arming teachers and mental health funding.

"The questions they asked him were amazing," said Kathleen Wylie, a seventh grade social studies teacher. "They’re questions that adults are grappling with, and for them to sit with the poise and interest and well-researched background to talk to some about constitutional law and principles, it is one of my proudest moments as a teacher."

Wylie added she is proud of how involved her students want to be, saying it’s another example of kids leading the way when it comes to issues that matter to them.