Topline:
Los Angeles Unified students elected rising Gardena High School senior Anely Cortez Lopez to the board of education.
Why it matters: The student board member attends meetings and can cast “advisory” votes — they don’t change the outcome of a resolution, but are part of the public record. Outgoing student board member Karen Ramirez told EdSource she worked to bring her peers’ voices closer to district leadership. “Oftentimes, we feel a gap or lack of connectivity with our school board members,” Ramirez said. “My biggest thing is to really bridge that gap that we might feel.”
The backstory: Lopez said she’s informed by her experience as the daughter of immigrants from Oaxaca and Nayarit and as a student of Title 1 schools who has seen the impact of programs like free lunch. “First generation, low income — these students have the equal opportunity to thrive in schools now that these barriers are taken away,” Lopez said. She’s also served on advisory councils for the LAUSD superintendent and the L.A. County Department of Public Health.
What's next: Lopez’s term starts in July. Like Ramirez, she plans to continue amplifying student voices. “They spend every day in the classroom,” Lopez said. “They have such a unique perspective on the issues pertaining to them and I truly believe that those are the voices that need the most attention.”
Who voted: About 8,900 students picked from nine candidates in an online election. Ramirez said it was a 400% increase in votes from the previous year.
Listen:
Go deeper: These Students Fought For Change This School Year. And Won