Lions introduced to new School Board Student Representative

Rusty Roberts, a member of the Cambridge City Schools Board of Education, Jenna Griffith and Jeff Carroll, student representative and alternate on the board spoke to the Cambridge Lions Club members on Monday. High school principal Scott Eldredge accompanied the students. Roberts has coordinated the student representative program since its inception three years ago.

“We wanted to create a situation where the students would see what goes into making decisions and encourage them to actively participate in the discussions,” Roberts said. “They have no voting privileges and cannot participate in executive sessions because of privacy issues, but we want them to give their input.”

“Many organizations could use this idea to get students more involved in learning about what it takes to get things accomplished,” Roberts said. “I have been invited to a number of school districts to give a presentation of how this program works. We have been nominated for the American School Board Journal Magna Award for best school board practices.”

“Communication between the school board and the student body is essential,” Griffith said. “Without input we will not get a good representation of what needs to be done. Working as the student representative will give me a better understanding of how the school board functions. I can take that back to the student body.”

“As I have grown up my family has been very important. We have always talked about family values and religious convictions,” said Griffith. “My parents and my grandparents are very religious people. They have helped keep me on track through high school. They’ve helped me to see how to choose between right and wrong.”

“My goal has always been to help others,” Griffith said. “I’ve learned that to help others you also have to ask a lot of questions to be informed.”

Students applying for the student representative position were asked to write about one issue that they would bring to the school board. “I have done a lot of research on the starting the school day later for high school students” Griffith said. “The research shows that teens naturally stay up later wake up later and this can lead to sleep deprivation and poorer performance in school.”

Carroll spoke about leadership. “I want to help make our school system better. I have learned that you must listen in order to lead. You also have to know the difference between when to lead and when to follow.”

“Some people say that leadership skills are something you are born with,” Carroll said. “I believe that you can develop better interpersonal relationships and that you can work to become a better leader. I try to lead by example.”

Carroll quoted Thomas Edison saying, “Opportunity is missed by most because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

“The issue that I would present to the board of education is to open up programs that develop leadership skills to all students,” Carroll said. “We have some programs that are open only to the academically talented students. Many students who are in the middle and some who struggle academically would benefit from participating in these programs.”

Pictured are: Rusty Roberts, Cambridge City Schools Board member, Lion Tom Cahoon, Jenna Griffith, Student representative for school board, Jeff Carroll, alternate student rep, Scott Eldredge, Cambridge High School Principal