Rep. Jahana Hayes, a Democrat from Connecticut’s 5th District and former National Teacher of the Year, returned to her roots Friday during a visit to Woodbury Middle School.

The former teacher is the first African American woman to represent the state. She took questions from eighth graders at the school regarding how she spends her days on Capitol Hill, how she handles stress and her thoughts on the impeachment probe.

Hayes also talked about taking ownership for your words. She says before she says anything publicly, she always thinks, "Is this something I would say in my classroom in front of my kids."

Hayes says the students were “thoughtful” and “tuned in.”