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Committee confirms Sofia Messina as student member of State Board of Education
Summary
Sofia Messina, a senior at Amity Regional High School and incoming Yale student, was confirmed as a nonvoting student member of the Connecticut State Board of Education after describing work on tutoring access, AI-driven learning tools and student representation.
Sofia Messina of Woodbridge was confirmed Feb. 6, 2025, by the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee to serve as a nonvoting student member of the Connecticut State Board of Education. Messina told the committee she has advocated for improved access to tutoring, translation services for families and school-holiday recognition for diverse communities.
Messina, a senior at Amity Regional High School and an admitted Yale University freshman, told the committee she worked with her superintendent and school board to study barriers to tutoring and considered AI-driven tutoring platforms that offer on-demand personalized support at lower cost. "I explored AI driven tutoring platforms, which offer on demand personalized support at a fraction of the cost of traditional tutoring methods," she said in testimony.
Her written and oral testimony highlighted student-led work on curriculum, translation services and increased representation. She described co-founding a fencing club turned varsity cooperative team, serving on her town's conservation commission and working as a swim instructor with children with disabilities. Committee members asked about appropriate classroom cell-phone policies, use of AI in instruction and how the state can retain and attract young talent to Connecticut colleges and careers.
Messina said cell phones should generally be turned off during instructional time to improve focus but noted high-school students may have outside responsibilities that occasionally require contact. On AI, she told the committee that while AI-detection tools limit academic misuse, certain AI platforms can expand access to tutoring and remedial support for students who face financial barriers.
Representative Concepcion and other members praised Messina's record; the committee moved to approve her nomination. Representative Godfrey made the motion and Senator Berthel seconded. The committee recorded the nomination as approved.
Messina said she will continue to amplify student voices at the State Board of Education, focusing on access to information, scholarships and classroom technology that supports diverse learners.
