Broadcast Communication: Student Representative to the Board

I, Cara Wreen, am honored to have served as a student representative on the Howard-Suamico School District Board of Education for the past two years. Among the duties of a student representative are voicing student opinions, explaining student viewpoints, and making sure that student concerns are heard by the Board of Education. A student representative identifies and relays the student perspective to the Board. A student representative is an avenue of communication between the student body and the school district. It’s a vital position: a student representative is necessary for board members and district administrators to understand student needs, especially during times of uncertainty, such as the COVID crisis. As I complete my term and my secondary education, I would like to offer some reflections on my experiences with the HSSD Board of Education and community. 

Serving as a student representative for the HSSD Board of Education has been fundamental to my growth as a student and leader. When I was appointed in 2021, I joined the Board during a time of challenges, tough decisions, and sometimes heated discussions about what to do about the COVID pandemic. I immediately became aware of the Board’s role and the impact of our decisions on student life, changing educational configurations, and the greater community. Listening to parent testimonials, hearing discussions and disagreements among Board members, conversing with professional leaders in various fields through linkages, and learning how the Board functions have taught me countless lessons about the significance of community. These opportunities have enabled me not just to witness but to experience first-hand the shared dedication and drive to enact policies and allocate resources to develop all students’ full academic potential and to promote their social and emotional growth. 

These opportunities have strengthened my resolve to become a compassionate leader. The HSSD Board of Education is composed of such leaders. Everyone I have interacted and worked with - students, staff, teachers, administrators, board members, community members - has been dedicated to finding solutions to problems and improving community life in our district. I am inspired by their commitment, hard work, and social values. In the future, I plan to contribute to the community on local, state, national, and international levels through the promotion of just and beneficial public policy. As my experience with the Board makes evident, a compassionate leader needs to be rational, open-minded, and ready to promote compromise for the good of the community. I will apply these and the other values I have learned everywhere, from debates with peers, to policy negotiations, to finding solutions to local and global problems and more.

I am grateful for my experiences as a student representative, and I have no doubt that the opportunity to serve as a student representative will transform the lives of my successors. 

On a more personal note, I would like to thank my Bay Port High School counselor, Mrs. Noe, for encouraging me to apply for the student representative position. I would also like to thank all the Board members for their encouragement of my ideas, for feedback on my ideas, and for whatever small success I have had as a Board member. I certainly can’t forget to nod my head in appreciation for the support shown to me by Superintendent LaCroix and all HSSD administrators. 

For more information about the Howard-Suamico School District, please visit our website at www.hssdschools.org.