The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) appointed nine new students to its 15-member Student Advisory Council (SAC) as voting members, in its meeting on November 4. The students will join the returning six members to advise the USBE on issues relevant to high school students throughout the state.
They were selected following an application period this fall. Appointed students attend both charter and traditional schools and represent diverse backgrounds. They report interest in issues including: mental health and bullying, access to personalized competency based learning, homelessness, issues perpetuated by the COVID-19 pandemic. credit recovery, college readiness, and school funding.
One student member from each of the 15 USBE voting districts serves on the SAC. The idea of creating a Student Advisory Council was initiated in 2018 by a student advocating for the involvement of student voices in statewide education policy decisions. The SAC has recommended changes to educational standards, later start times for high schoolers, increased mental health supports, greater and more equitable access to school counseling services, and more diverse perspectives in course content. The SAC’s advice has been sought by the Board as well as legislators and even First Lady Abby Cox. The SAC will meet every six months to discuss how decisions made at the state level affect students and offer recommendations on these decisions to the full Board. Membership is split between grades 11 and 12.
Newly Appointed SAC Members
| State Board Voting District | Student Name | School |
| 1 | Carter Gale | InTech Collegiate Academy |
| 3 | Jessica Castaneda | Wendover High School |
| 4 | Emma Evans | Layton High School |
| 6 | Joey Coleman | Copper Hills High School |
| 8 | Alexis Thompson | Murray High School |
| 9 | Sophia Thompson | Lone Peak High School |
| 10 | Geonyoung Sarah Park | Summit Academy High School |
| 11 | Kathrynne Pullan | Riverton High School |
| 15 | Sojung Bok | DSU Success Academy |
New USBE SAC Members 1
Returning SAC Members
| State Board Voting District | Student Name | School |
| 2 | Jacob Peterson | Ogden High School |
| 5 | Sunny Price-Huish | Bountiful High School |
| 7 | Dhati Oommen | West High School |
| 12 | Kelsie Call | Karl G. Maeser Prep. Academy |
| 13 | Paige Ballard | Springville High School |
| 14 | Dallin Braun | Emery High School |
Returning USBE SAC Members 1
