Student/Superintendent
Advisory Council
Oh the places you’ll go...
You have brains in
your head.
You have feet in your
shoes.
You can steer yourself
Any direction you
choose.
--Dr. Seuss
The 2015-16 Student/Superintendent Advisory Council (SSAC)
provides a forum where students can participate in the important decisions and
processes that affect their education. Fourteen students, representing CUSD’s
three high schools, come together monthly to talk about current topics facing
the Board, and issues and concerns that the students bring forward.
Last Friday the (SSAC) held its final meeting of the
year. It was time to honor our
graduating seniors for all they contributed to the Council, and to talk about
their future plans. Here’s what four of our of our students shared:
Ally Hatter wants to be a middle school math teacher. She will
be attending Cal Lutheran in the fall, studying Math and Pedagogy. Ally also
loves animals, so she is currently volunteering at Ivey Ranch, in their Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program for special
needs children.
Garrett Henkel played baseball for
CHS for four years, and was a Royal Lancer. Now he is following his dream to
attend UCSD and play Division 1 baseball. He will be studying international
business, and is also interested in public health, nutrition and fitness. He is
going off to Europe with his family this summer after graduation.
Shakiba Mashayekhi will be attending
MiraCosta College for one year, and then, with credits from her AP classes,
plans to transfer to UC Berkeley or UCLA. In the fall she will be working as an
intern in the office of California Assemblyman Rocky Chavez. She is planning on
a double major in International Relations and Philosophy, with a minor in Spanish.
After college she hopes to go to law school, specializing in human rights law.
Israel Tribby graduated in March
from Carlsbad Village Academy, and is now manager of the Coolbeans Skate Shop
in San Marcos. Israel started working at the shop when he was 16, and is now
starting his own line of high end street wear. His is interested in taking
business management, graphic design and art classes at MiraCosta or Palomar
College.
At our end-of-the-year meeting the students took some time
to talk about how they had benefited from being a part of SSAC and what they
had learned from their experience.
Here are some of their comments:
“SSAC gave me a voice, and my ideas made a difference when
decisions were made.”
“I
connected with people I would never have had the opportunity to talk with, and
I gained new perspectives from these new connections.”
“I got
a feeling for how much the district helps students learn, and helps us through
our careers as students.”
“I
want to work in a school district, so it's very relevant to me to learn how
they work.”
“I
gained so much knowledge about all that goes into running schools--so many
people working together for us.”
“You
don't need to be a certain age to make a difference.”
“I
learned how to hold a conversation with someone who can really help me in the
future, and how to speak confidently with adults.”
“We
got to take part in several events. I had the opportunity to speak at the State
of the District event, which was inspiring--all of these great people from the
city, the business, education, and community leaders, were there to support the
District.”
“I liked being a part of the State
of the District event, and working on the District’s new mission statement.”
“I
gained confidence talking with the other members of the group and Dr. Lovely.
At first I didn’t expect to fit in, but I made friends, and became part of a
new community.”
“I
learned so much about leadership skills and public speaking.”
It has been inspiring for me, as superintendent, to work
together with these talented young people. Their futures hold great promise.
I’m looking forward to hearing about their successes in the lives and careers
they pursue.
