Student representative has ambitious goals
BOARD, From page 1 policy they have [the students’ perspectives] in mind,” Coombs said.
The expectation of the student member is that they have a good sense of representing all students, act as a role model and leader and keep on top of all the reading and information that the school board handles, Coombs said.
Each of the 24 public school districts in Maryland has a student member, as does the State Board of Education. Approved in 1985, the state student member is appointed by the governor and is able to vote on all matters except those pertaining to personnel or appeals.
Ambika was among six candidates who applied to become the student member for this academic year. A student delegate convention at Wilde Lake High School in February winnowed the field to two before the April vote.
Cindy Drummond, an adviser to the Howard County Association of Student Councils, said the selection process and convention were “humbling to watch.” The association of student councils has about 100 student representatives from all high schools and most middle schools who are all interested having a role in policymaking, Drummond said.
“The students ran all of it, all of it, from writing the policy, [to] serving as delegates, organizing the buses, checking students in, to managing the podium,” Drummond said.
When asked if there should be an option to have the student member selected by county voters, like the current school board, Ambika said “it’s a terrible idea.”
“We are not representing the parents, we are representing the students,” Ambika said.
Making a difference Ambika said her predecessors did a “great job” of bringing the student perspective before the school board but believes there is still room for improvement, mostly with student representation.
During Selbrede’s term, she wrote and presented a resolution declaring that the school board supports “student voice regarding student safety.” In the resolution that passed, the school board stated they recognized that the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School school shooting on Valentine’s Day in Parkland, Fla., “served as a nationwide call to action to address school safety as well as the power of student voice.”
Selbrede wanted to have the resolution passed when student walkouts were being established and some school systems, including Harford County, banning students from taking part in walkouts.
“My focus point was that … students should be allowed to use their voices to fight for that safety,” Selbrede said. “It was sad that I had to do it but I thought it was a cool way to use the position and advocate for what the students wanted.”
Selbrede also had a hand in editing policies that came before the board.
She said sometimes when the board members were discussing topics, some would say, “Anna is actually in school,” and seek her advice.
“It [was] a nice respect [that] they turned to me and asked what I thought,” Selbrede said.
In addition to attending meetings and the school board’s Coffee and Conversation events, Ambika is expected to join members during meetings with state lawmakers.
“It’s exciting [with] what the student members have the opportunity to contribute to with policy,” whether it be student dress codes, school start times or the yearly calendar, Coombs said.
Ambika will go to the Maryland State House in Annapolis to testify on policy and witness how the school board works with state and local officials throughout next year’s legislative session.
She said she is looking forward to improving her networking and time-management skills. Ambika has been involved in an Indian style of dance, Kuchipudi, since she was 3 years old. She also was a summer intern at the Food and Drug Administration, studying the effects of glue on metal.
Ambika, who is also applying to colleges where she would like to pursue business and pre-medicine, said that it’s “an amazing opportunity” and an honor to sit on the school board.
“I want to walk away with the feeling that I made an impact in Howard County,”
Ambika said. “I want to impact individuals because I feel that makes a big difference and letting people know that their opinions matter and if they just communicate it properly it’s going to change the way the [school] board looks at things.” jnocera@baltsun.com
The expectation of the student member is that they have a good sense of representing all students, act as a role model and leader and keep on top of all the reading and information that the school board handles, Coombs said.
Each of the 24 public school districts in Maryland has a student member, as does the State Board of Education. Approved in 1985, the state student member is appointed by the governor and is able to vote on all matters except those pertaining to personnel or appeals.
Ambika was among six candidates who applied to become the student member for this academic year. A student delegate convention at Wilde Lake High School in February winnowed the field to two before the April vote.
Cindy Drummond, an adviser to the Howard County Association of Student Councils, said the selection process and convention were “humbling to watch.” The association of student councils has about 100 student representatives from all high schools and most middle schools who are all interested having a role in policymaking, Drummond said.
“The students ran all of it, all of it, from writing the policy, [to] serving as delegates, organizing the buses, checking students in, to managing the podium,” Drummond said.
When asked if there should be an option to have the student member selected by county voters, like the current school board, Ambika said “it’s a terrible idea.”
“We are not representing the parents, we are representing the students,” Ambika said.
Making a difference Ambika said her predecessors did a “great job” of bringing the student perspective before the school board but believes there is still room for improvement, mostly with student representation.
During Selbrede’s term, she wrote and presented a resolution declaring that the school board supports “student voice regarding student safety.” In the resolution that passed, the school board stated they recognized that the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School school shooting on Valentine’s Day in Parkland, Fla., “served as a nationwide call to action to address school safety as well as the power of student voice.”
Selbrede wanted to have the resolution passed when student walkouts were being established and some school systems, including Harford County, banning students from taking part in walkouts.
“My focus point was that … students should be allowed to use their voices to fight for that safety,” Selbrede said. “It was sad that I had to do it but I thought it was a cool way to use the position and advocate for what the students wanted.”
Selbrede also had a hand in editing policies that came before the board.
She said sometimes when the board members were discussing topics, some would say, “Anna is actually in school,” and seek her advice.
“It [was] a nice respect [that] they turned to me and asked what I thought,” Selbrede said.
In addition to attending meetings and the school board’s Coffee and Conversation events, Ambika is expected to join members during meetings with state lawmakers.
“It’s exciting [with] what the student members have the opportunity to contribute to with policy,” whether it be student dress codes, school start times or the yearly calendar, Coombs said.
Ambika will go to the Maryland State House in Annapolis to testify on policy and witness how the school board works with state and local officials throughout next year’s legislative session.
She said she is looking forward to improving her networking and time-management skills. Ambika has been involved in an Indian style of dance, Kuchipudi, since she was 3 years old. She also was a summer intern at the Food and Drug Administration, studying the effects of glue on metal.
Ambika, who is also applying to colleges where she would like to pursue business and pre-medicine, said that it’s “an amazing opportunity” and an honor to sit on the school board.
“I want to walk away with the feeling that I made an impact in Howard County,”
Ambika said. “I want to impact individuals because I feel that makes a big difference and letting people know that their opinions matter and if they just communicate it properly it’s going to change the way the [school] board looks at things.” jnocera@baltsun.com
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