Student Board Trustees Usher in a New Era of Youth Advocacy

Across the state, many students are stepping into roles traditionally reserved for adults: serving as representatives on their local school boards. According to the California School Boards Association (CSBA), two-thirds of school districts serving high school students statewide have at least one student board member. Earlier this month, Kern County took a significant step in this movement by appointing its first-ever student representative to the Kern County Board of Education (KCBOE). 

Violetamarysol ‘Tita’ Morales, a senior at Valley Oaks Charter School (VOCS), made history at the August board meeting as the first appointed ‘student champion’ for the KCBOE. With her impressive background, including her Associated Student Body (ASB) President role and her recognition as a Rising Star student at VOCS, Morales feels she is well-prepared to take on this role. 

When not at school, Morales also owns a small business specializing in baking vintage and “copy and paste” style cakes and helping with her parents catering business, further demonstrating her leadership skills.

According to Morales, taking on this role was an opportunity to gain valuable growth opportunities that she could take with her after high school and advocate for her peers. 

Tita Morales, left, participates in her first KCBOE meeting on Aug. 13, 2024.

“Becoming a student board member will help me gain leadership skills by giving me first-hand experience in the decision-making process that affects my peers,” said Morales. “Plus, it’ll help me develop confidence in public speaking and the ability to lead by example.”

Morales also emphasized the importance of ensuring youth voices are heard throughout this process because students are the ones who are affected by the decisions made in these board rooms. 

“Adults may sometimes have a hard time understanding what we as youth want and need, so having a voice at the table makes it easier and more effective to create solutions to help us have a say in our future,” she said.

The California Education Code 35012, which, as of July 1, 2023, authorizes county offices of education to appoint student board members, made appointing a KCBOE student representative possible. 

According to Stephen Sanders, KCSOS chief of staff, student representatives may be elected from the student body of high schools within the board’s jurisdiction, or the board may directly select the member.

At Kern High School District (KHSD), Jalynn Hammond, a Del Oro High School senior, recently became the fourth student board member to serve on the district’s board of trustees. 

“I feel so grateful and blessed to be a part of this board,” Hammond shared. “To be given the opportunity as the young black woman, I will be able to project my voice and sit in a room with people who have a great purpose for students on our campuses and district-wide.” 

In years past, students serving as representatives on the KHSD board have conferred with other students elected to the Student Board Member Advisory Council, including one representative from every comprehensive high school and one from KHSD’s alternative high schools. While most student representatives are high school seniors or juniors, districts in California can have student board members as young as ninth graders.

Meanwhile in eastern Kern County, Brodey Zade, a senior at Burroughs High School, is entering his second year of a two-year term as a student board member at Sierra Sands Unified School District (SSUSD). 

“The benefits for students and boards alike are great,” said Zade. “The student receives a view into public life, administration, and representation, as well as critical networking and professional skills for later life.”

In his first year on the board, Zade participated in meetings and relayed new policies to his peers. However, with the recent changes in laws regarding student board members and the adopting of a revised board policy in January 2024, Zade will have a preferential vote on the SSUSD school board. This means his vote will be recorded but won’t contribute to the tally. He will also be welcomed into any committee or function a regular board member can access, except for closed sessions.

“I’m looking forward to having more responsibility with the board and hope that these changes will get more students interested in participating in the future,” Zade said. 

Both Morales and Hammond also enjoy these benefits and hope to be able to confer with peers to advocate for issues they care about. 

“I plan to get feedback from my peers by using surveys, suggestion boxes, and talking to them directly,” said Morales. “This feedback is important because we know what is really going on and can give ideas that work towards a better school environment.”

The CSBA is crucial in supporting student trustees, offering robust training programs that equip them with the skills needed to succeed. 

According to CSBA spokesperson Troy Flint, student board members offer unique and invaluable insight from their first-hand experience using facilities, contributing to school culture, receiving instruction, navigating curriculum, and interacting with peers and staff on a daily basis. 

“This information is invaluable to school boards as they confront the major challenges and opportunities in their school district or county office of education and develop policies to improve student achievement and well-being,” he said. 

SSUSD Board President Bill Farris agrees and has been pleased with students’ contributions to board proceedings.

“I believe that one of the most important principles that can be applied to almost any organization is developing and improving understanding,” said Farris. “The participation of an engaged student member on the board of education provides that opportunity.”