Student Board Members are valued voices on the State Board, and are able to participate in SBE's Student Voice Committee which explores ways students can have a more active role in education policy issues. Each year the Association of Washington Student Leaders (AWSL) selects a sophomore student to serve through their senior year on the AWSL Student Voice & Advocacy Board who will also represent Washington students on the State Board of Education (SBE). This year, we are seeking a passionate sophomore and student leader to represent Eastern Washington at a state-level! Applications are due March 9.

Recent features of SBE Student Board Member work: 

• SBE Adopts Resolution in Support of Chronic Absenteeism and Trauma Supports
• Migrant Student Opportunity to Dream
• Clips:
  • Margarita and Autymn Talk Student Advisory Vote
  • Yakama Tribal School Visit Recap with Margarita
  • Yakama Tribal School Visit Recap with Autymn

This position requires an articulate student who can listen, observe and provide input on issues regarding educational policy in Washington State. As a member of the AWSL Student Voice & Advocacy Board, the student will participate in meetings and conferences which will allow them to gather student input on issues effecting today’s schools. The student selected to serve this two-year term must be interested in educational issues and must be willing to commit to a rigorous meeting schedule with state-wide travel. The meetings of the AWSL Student Voice & Advocacy Board and the State Board of Education will require that the selected student to commit to approximately 16 days during each school year, including some Sunday and weekend commitments. It is essential that a student seeking this position have the support of their school administration and parents. 

Qualifications
A nominee for 2020-2022 AWSL Representative to the State Board of Education (SBE) must:

1. Be enrolled in a secondary school throughout the academic years of his or her term.
2. Be a sophomore at the time of selection.
3. Reside and attend school on the eastside of the state with the Cascade Mountains serving as the dividing line.
4. Be able to attend and participate in all scheduled SBE and AWSL Student Voice & Advocacy Board meetings.
5. Have above-average grades and be responsible to make up schoolwork missed while attending scheduled meetings.  
6. Be involved in their school's leadership program in some capacity.

Position responsibilities include:

1. Attend and represent students at all State Board of Education meetings.  Each meeting will require that the representative miss two school days. Meetings are held in  May, July, September, November, January, March 
2. Attend all AWSL Student Voice & Advocacy Board meetings and play an active leadership role within the AWSL organization. Required meeting dates include:
3. Represent student opinion at a variety of education-related events. This will include speaking and panel presentations at statewide events.
4.  Mentor the newly elected junior representative during their senior year.

If you have questions regarding the position, please contact Greg Barker at 360.497.5323, or email greg@awsp.org.

Timeline

• Applications postmarked: Monday, March 9, 2020
• Finalists notified by: Tuesday, March 17, 2020
• Finalists interviewed (date and location to be announced): Prior to April 17, 2020
• First AWSL Student Voice & Advocacy Board Meeting: Sun/Mon, April 29-30, 2020
• First State Board meeting for new representative: Wed/Thurs, May 9-10, 2020

1. Each school may submit the application of one sophomore.  
2. Submit a complete application packet to include:
   1. A fully completed and signed application form (page 4 of this packet). 
   2. A typed essay reflecting knowledge of, interest in, and qualifications for this position. (Response must be no longer than one sheet of 8 1/2 x 11” paper.)
   3. A letter of support from a building administrator or adviser who will attest to your sense of responsibility, maturity and leadership ability. Additional letters or attachments will not be considered. 

Application packets must be postmarked or emailed by Monday, March 9, 2020.

Complete packets need to be emailed to greg@awsp.org, faxed to 360.497.5324 OR mailed to:
Greg Barker, Director Student Leadership
2142 Cispus Road
Randle, WA  98377

Finalists will be notified by Tuesday, March 17, 2018. Interviews will be held prior to April 17, 2020. The selected representative will begin service at the AWSL Student Voice & Advocacy Board meeting April 2020 and will attend their first State Board of Education meeting May 13-14, 2020 in Pasco.