Principal presents student advisory board members; board recognizes bilingual teacher Edith Martinez

At the board meeting, the principal and student-advisory coordinator (speaker 3) introduced the district’s newly elected Student Advisory Board representatives and presented certificates to students from the district’s three middle schools. "The student advisory board will serve as the student voice in partnership with the board of education for inclusive and innovative student programming," the principal said, reading the board’s vision statement.

The principal explained the selection process: two elected eighth-grade representatives from each middle school were chosen by peers after submitting petitions, photographs and letters of interest. The board presented certificates to student representatives named in the meeting: Kalia Brown and Sophie Keys (Nathan Hale Middle School); Caitlin Hernandez and Destiny Tapia (Everett [as read in transcript] school); and Natalia Carvero and Donald Noah (Veterans Memorial Middle School).

Earlier in the meeting a board member (speaker 3) also recognized Edith Martinez, introduced in the meeting as a sixth-grade bilingual teacher, for "unwavering dedication and commitment" and cited her volunteer work with student government in a community parade. The recognition noted Martinez’s classroom leadership and community engagement.

The presentation framed the student advisory board as a vehicle for student participation in district committees; the principal said past student involvement included the uniform, discipline and strategic-planning committees and that the new representatives will begin meeting after an orientation.

Board members applauded the students; the meeting then proceeded to routine agenda items.