All active student board representatives from across Washington state are welcome to join the Student Representatives Network (SRN). This group meets monthly during the school year (September-May) to connect student board representatives to issues and topics regarding K-12 education in Washington state.

Meetings

Meetings are usually virtual and occur on the last Monday of each month at 6:00 pm. Students who have signed up to join the network will receive an email with the link and agenda the week before each month’s meeting.

Zachary Glenn

The network was an invaluable resource during my time as a student representative. It allowed me to hear best practices from across the state, and bring those ideas home to my district in Kennewick.

Zachary Glenn 2022 Kennewick Student Board Representative

Network Leadership Roles

By a vote of its members, the network selects a chair, vice chair, and secretary each year during its November meeting at WSSDA’s annual conference.

Chair

The chair oversees the work of the network and their duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Providing leadership and guidance to the SRN.
  • Co-facilitating monthly SRN meetings.
  • Working in conjunction with the vice chair and WSSDA support team to create meeting agendas.
  • Communicating with WSSDA staff to promote student rep network and SRN advocacy interests in line with WSSDA positions.

In order to be elected chair, the candidate must:

  • Have a developed understanding of the importance of the SRN, plus at least one year of experience participating in SRN meetings.
  • Be able to attend all meetings of the SRN for the given school year, pending unanticipated circumstances.

Vice Chair

The vice chair serves as the backup leader to the chair, so the network is never without leadership. Duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Building and develop monthly SRN meeting agendas in collaboration with SRN chair and WSSDA staff.
  • Co-facilitating monthly SRN meetings in the absence of the SRN chair.
  • Assisting with SRN chair duties as needed.
  • Completing special leadership/project duties as requested by the chair and/or the WSSDA staff.

In order to be elected vice chair, the candidate must:

  • Have a developed understanding of the importance of the SRN.
  • Be able to attend all meetings of the SRN for the given school year, pending unanticipated circumstances.

Secretary

The secretary serves as the primary record keeper for the network. Duties include:

  • Working with WSSDA staff to send meeting reminders and agendas ahead of each meeting as well as meeting minutes afterwards.
  • Recording accurate, detailed meeting minutes at each SRN meeting.
  • Summarize meeting minutes to create high-level notes and action items for each meeting.
  • Strategizing with WSSDA staff and SRN Chair regarding student representative participation at WSSDA events.
  • Maintaining the network’s membership roster with WSSDA staff.

In order to be elected secretary, the candidate must:

  • Be able to attend all meetings of the SRN for the given school year, pending unanticipated circumstances.

“Being able to experience the lessons of our state/country’s legislative system was more than I ever expected. However, being able to partake in WSSDA’s annual conference and connect with the Student Board Representatives Network is beyond words. It provided me with clarity and community with other young advocates that were like me and, yet, not like me at all. We all empowered, motivated, and respected each other. Those experiences are irreplaceable.”

Brooklyn Arroyo, 2022 Pasco Student Board Representative

Staff Contacts

Heather Curl
Director of Leadership Development
360-252-3011

Marissa Rathbone
Strategic Advocacy Director
360-742-4435