New student commissioner sworn in; board and community thank outgoing student commissioner Dylan Rooks

The Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners formally welcomed the newly elected student commissioner, Zaira Chicas Guzman, and recognized outgoing student commissioner Dylan Rooks for his year of service during the June 10 meeting.

Zaira Chicas Guzman, a junior at Digital Harbor High School, was elected citywide by students in grades 6–12 during a district student election in which more than 3,900 students voted. She gave brief remarks expressing eagerness to work with the board and to represent student perspectives.

The board recognized Dylan Rooks for his service throughout the 2024–25 school year. Commissioners and staff praised Rooks’ advocacy, attendance at committee meetings and work as a student voice on policy and safety committees. The mayor’s office provided a certificate of recognition dated June 10, 2025, signed by Mayor Brandon M. Scott acknowledging Rooks’ dedicated service. The board also issued a formal proclamation that listed Rooks’ committee assignments and community service roles and thanked him for his leadership.

Why it matters: The student commissioner role gives a voting or advisory seat (as provided by district practice) to a student representative whose term is elected by their peers; the position is intended to bring student perspectives into board deliberations. The board noted that recent changes to Maryland law had updated the election process and expanded the student commissioner role, making the campus-wide student election a districtwide, student-run vote.

Next steps: The board and district staff pledged to work with the new student commissioner for the coming year on policy committees, student engagement at work sessions and initiatives around student voice and programming.