Superintendent Student Advisory Committee holds first Leadership Conference

MOUNT VERNON - Sixty students from the 12 schools in the Mount Vernon School District gathered at the Mount Vernon Library Commons on Tuesday for the first Leadership Conference put on by the Superintendent Student Advisory Committee.

Led by 10 high school student mentors, groups of elementary, middle and high school students participated in a variety of activities.

The Superintendent Student Advisory Committee, formed last year by Mount Vernon School District Superintendent Victor Vergara, works to advise the Mount Vernon School Board on issues that directly impact students.

The group meets with Vergara monthly.

Recent examples of the advisory committee's work include offering the district feedback on English class curricula, cellphone usage in schools and student walkouts.

This year, the group is comprised of 25 high school students who worked to organize and put on Tuesday's event.

Student Board Representative Aislynn Thune, a sophomore at Mount Vernon High School, helped plan the event. She said the group acts as a voice for students in the district.

Madison Elementary School Assistant Principal and Student Advisory Committee Adviser Adan Rodriguez said the group helps bridge the gap between students and administrators.

Students on the committee work with Rodriguez and Mount Vernon High School Dean of Students Armando Ruiz to receive professional development and leadership skills.

"Student perspectives are really important," Thune said.

She and two other student representatives addressed the group before lunch Tuesday.

They encouraged younger students to get involved in the program and attend board meetings to share their experiences.

The students attending the leadership conference were chosen by their schools and act as members of smaller committees that advise their principals.

"Being a leader, it's not just about having power, it's about showing up," Vergara said as he spoke to the students Tuesday. "It's important that you advocate for others and for yourselves."

Vergara said that school board work and leadership is about accounting for students of all ages rather than just the adult and administrative perspectives.

Angel Aguilar, a Mount Vernon High School sophomore, said he enjoys sharing ideas and opinions, and likes that the advisory committee gives him that opportunity.

As a Spanish speaker, he said he wants to be an example of the fact that language doesn't have to be a barrier to this work.

Aguilar's interests include advocating for shy students. For him, this involves asking students questions about their interests and finding ways to include them in classroom activities.

The application for next year's Superintendent Student Advisory Committee can be found at mountvernonschools.org/node/1175. Interested students entering ninth, 10th and 11th grades are encouraged to apply.

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