Release Date:
The Washington State Board of Education is proud to announce that Cástulo González, student representative, has graduated from Capital High School (Olympia School District) and is now a State Board of Education Alumnus.
Cástulo was selected to join the Board in June 2023. During his tenure, he has been a steadfast advocate for students across the state and has brought a powerful voice to our work over the past two years. He played a key role in the Board’s legislative advocacy—presenting before the House Education Committee, testifying on priority bills, and meeting directly with legislators.
Next year, Cástulo will attend Central Washington University and plans to major in business administration and accounting with a potential minor in human resources or a management-related studies.
During his final meeting on June 2025, Cástulo took a few moments to share a few reflections with the community about his time on the Board.
Moments of Pride
Upon reflecting on his proudest moments with the Board, Cástulo said his advocacy on HB1915 — which would’ve made instruction on financial education a graduation prerequisite.
“That was a moment where I felt like I was set free to advocate,” Cástulo said. “I got to speak to the chair and members directly by myself. And I nailed it.”
Amongst everything, Cástulo said he was proud to represent his community and his culture with loyalty, respect, and patriotism to both sides of who he is: Mexican and American.
“I’m not just one or the other. I’m the bridge. And honestly? Sometimes that’s hard,” Cástulo said. “I brought the voice of generations of poverty and struggle from my dad and beyond in Mexico. And I brought the voices of thousands of underrepresented people — especially students who don’t always get to be at the table.”
During his tenure, Cástulo was passionate about expanding access to the Seal of Biliteracy - especially through his advocacy of HB1218 which required all public high schools to award the Seal of Biliteracy to qualifying graduates starting in the 2025-26 school year.
“I felt especially heard when I kept pushing for the Seal of Biliteracy to be required in all Washington schools,” Cástulo said. “When I talked to Senator Ortiz-Self and others about it, I knew people were finally listening. Language, culture, and diversity have always been my thing. I’ve seen real changes because of what I brought forward.”
A Message to the Community
When asked what message he wanted to send to the community, Cástulo said he wanted everyone to know that the Board is the voice of the people in education.
“We don’t have authority over everything,” Cástulo said. “But the Board matters. It has power over graduation requirements and a couple other areas, and most importantly, it’s a place where people can advocate... This isn’t just a place to vent, it's a place to build something better. The Board can’t fix every issue in education. That’s not what we’re for. But we can start the conversations, push the state, and shape change.”
The Board’s FutureReady initiative to update Washington high school graduation requirements was among the things he highlighted
“I’ve had the honor of attending two task force meetings,” Cástulo said. “I can confidently say it’s in good hands. That initiative will change education for the better for years. “
A Message to Future Student Representatives
“I don’t wish I knew more, I wish I did more right away. ” Cástulo said when asked if he has any advice for future student representatives. “I wish I had jumped in earlier. It’s hard work. You’ve gotta get used to all the technical jargon and complicated systems, and honestly? I feel like I just got the hang of it. And now I’m leaving. So my advice? Talk. As much as you can. No one can read your mind. You have to be a voice. That’s the whole job. Be honest. Be yourself. Say what you believe. You don’t have to convince everyone. You only have to convince one person. That can change everything.”