State School Superintendent Richard Woods and his staff recently selected 69 Georgia students to serve on his 2023-24 Student Advisory Council (SAC). Throughout the year, these students will meet with Woods to provide feedback on the impact of state policies in the classroom.
Among those selected were two Putnam County High School students: senior Evan Nipper and sophomore Addison Usry.
“It's a huge honor and a wonderful opportunity for both,” Putnam County Charter School System Marketing and Communications Coordinator Lindsey Rickman said. “And pretty prestigious considering out of over 1,700 applicants only 69 were chosen from around the state.”
The council includes at least four students from every Regional Educational Service Agency region in Georgia, with students from rural, suburban, and urban schools represented. Because the Georgia Department of Education works to ensure the council is representative of students in all regions of the state and selects students based on the strength of their essay answers, in some cases multiple students from a district may be selected.
“Georgia’s public schools exist to serve students, and it is absolutely essential that we receive feedback from those directly affected by statewide policies,” Woods said. “Every year, my Student Advisory Council is an incredibly valuable resource for me, and for my colleagues at the Georgia Department of Education as we make decisions that will directly impact the classroom.”
The 2023-24 Student Advisory Council will meet four times, on the following dates: Nov. 9, Jan. 18, Mar. 7, and Apr. 25. For council members who live 50-plus miles away from an announced meeting location, overnight lodging will be provided.
This year, students selected for the council wrote essays addressing a wide variety of issues in education, including curriculum and graduation requirements; the impact of federal- and state-mandated assessments in the classroom; the importance of teacher recruitment and retention efforts to students’ classroom experience; and access to opportunities and resources for students in rural areas.
Throughout the school year, SAC members will discuss education-related issues, serve as the superintendent's ambassadors to their respective schools, and participate in service projects to benefit schools and students.
“The students selected for this year’s council are a prestigious group representing schools across the state, and I look forward to working with them to expand educational opportunities for all of Georgia’s children,” Woods said.
Students apply for the advisory council at the beginning of each school year.