Each year, the Olympia School District Board of Directors will select high school juniors or seniors to serve as student representatives on the board for all schools with grades 9-12. The students serve in an advisory capacity at board meetings and may cast non-binding, advisory votes on motions before the board. They contribute to discussion by providing student insight and are encouraged to comment about policies, procedures and decisions that affect students. They also serve as a liaison for student leadership at their schools and report to fellow students about the work of the board and district activities.
Here is how the past Student Board Representatives described their experience serving on the board:
"I loved being a student representative, the work was fulfilling. I'm glad that I was able to be proactive in our school system, witness firsthand the work that the district does, and be included in decisions that affect me and my peers."- Student Representative Michelle Pineda (Avanti)
"My time as a student rep has allowed me to learn about the way our district works from the inside, and I have experienced the policymaking process in a hands-on environment. The opportunity to contribute to discussions, hear from students and community members, and advise members of the school board and district staff has been an incredibly rewarding experience." - Student Representative Matthew Scott (Olympia)
Recruitment for student representatives for the new school year begins in the spring.
2025-26 Student Board Representative applications are now being accepted.
- The application deadline is April 6, 2025.
Eligibility Requirements
Student representatives must be:
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Entering their junior or senior year at the time of selection and in good academic standing, and maintain good academic standing throughout their term. Selected students should also have a history of leadership and involvement in extracurricular and civic activities;
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Willing to communicate with fellow students about the activities of the Board and to gather input about issues facing the Board;
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Willing to commit the necessary time to attend meetings and perform the duties and responsibilities of a student representative. Board meetings are generally scheduled two evenings each month (2nd and 4th Thursday from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.), one monthly work session (1st Thursday from 6 – 8 p.m.), a summer retreat in the month of August (1/2 day); and a winter retreat in the month of January (1/2 day).
For more information about being a student representative, contact Nicole Gonzalez, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, at [email protected] or call (360) 596-6114.
2024 – 25 Student Board Representatives
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Avanti High School: Sovana Roberts (senior)
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Capital High School: Alijah Manzanares (senior)
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Olympia High School: Vy Le (junior)
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Olympia Regional Learning Academy (ORLA): Declan Borden (junior)
Olympia School Board Student Representative Instagram Account Disclaimer
Student representatives on the Olympia School Board are responsible for creating content for the “OSD Student Representatives” Instagram account. Information submitted by student representatives for posting must be accurate and conform to all district policies and procedures. The account is managed by OSD Communications staff, which posts content created by students for this site, including text, images and video.