by Two new student trustees for the next academic year were recently welcomed by the San Diego Unified School District.
Ashley Ordaz of University City High School and Alina Nguyen of Hoover High School, the trustees, started their terms on July 1 but won’t attend their first meeting until August.
In essence, student trustees have the freedom to express their opinions and cast their votes as they see fit, but their votes do not ultimately determine the board’s choices, even though they are voting members.
In their position, Nguyen and Ordaz are not the first and probably won’t be the last. Since the post was established six years ago, they are the tenth and eleventh student trustees. As with adult board members, they will each be paid $1,736 per month.
Ordaz, a rising junior, grew up in San Diego while being born in Las Vegas. Later in life, she intends to study international relations. She likes to travel, visit museums, and go to the beach.
In a press release, she stated, “I view this leadership role not only as one that I have won, but as a duty to elevate underrepresented diverse voices and take action on real issues that need to be fixed.”
Ordaz intends to concentrate on school safety and making sure that pupils feel secure enough to go to class each day.
Another rising senior who has dabbled in diplomacy is Nguyen. She studied global justice and diplomacy in London and Washington, D.C., at the School for Ethics and Global Leadership.
“I’m dedicated to making sure every student feels heard and seen, and I proudly carry that mission forward,” she said.
Increasing the number of wellness centers in high schools and, if feasible, middle schools is one of Nguyen’s objectives while serving on the board.
In the board’s decision-making process, the student trustee position elevates the voices of the students. It is not the only position of its sort and was created in 2019. In almost two-thirds of California’s school districts, there are also student board members.
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The former trustees, Joseph Cruz and Quinton Baldis, were constantly advancing the discussion and reminding us how crucial it is to prioritize the needs and voices of the students in whatever you do, according to Superintendent Fabiola Bagula.
Cody Petterson, president of the board, echoed the view. He claimed that the student jobs served as a stark reminder of how crucial it is to always prioritize the needs of the students.
