Amy Zhang, a student at The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, was selected to serve as a high school junior student representative for the Mississippi State Board of Education.
Student representatives are non-voting members but provide input on policy decisions that affect Mississippi public schools. Amy will join Omar Jamil of Hernando, who serves as the high school senior representative for the SBE.
“The Board is proud to welcome Amy to the student representative program and is looking forward to her contributions to our work,” said Dr. Jason Dean, SBE chair. “Students bring tremendous insight to the Board and we value their perspective.”
Student representatives serve for two years. After the senior representative graduates, the junior representative will promote to the senior representative position. A new junior representative is appointed annually.
Zhang has earned a 4.85 grade point average, achieved a perfect score of 36 on the ACT and successfully completed numerous Advanced Placement (AP) courses. She is an award-winning debate and National History Day competitor and has served in numerous school and civic leadership positions including Starkville High School Speech and Debate Club president, Starkville Mississippi State University Chinese School choreographer, MATHCOUNTS student coach, Starkville Mayor Youth Council member and Oktibbeha Young Leaders.
“The personal involvement my community has in the education system motivates me to serve as the student representative because I know how much I can benefit Mississippi,” Zhang said.