High School Seniors Reflect On Serving As Student Advisory Councilmembers During Pandemic

Students involved in the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s Student Advisory Council said the past year was challenging, but they were still able to accomplish quite a bit.

The council, now in its sixth year, is made up of approximately 100 students from school districts throughout Oklahoma. The group designed to assist State Superintendent Hofmeister with policies for students.

“Most of the issues that we were able to address this year aren't new this year,” councilmember and Charles Page High School graduate Sean Kuehn said. “They aren't issues that have been around that have been deepened and become more prominent with the pandemic, so mental health was a huge issue that we communicated with state Superintendent (Joy) Hofmeister this year.”

Students said they were pleased to see funding allocated towards more school counselors and social-emotional needs.

“If physical health education is important, mental health education should be just as important,” councilmember and Putnam City High School graduate Kel Pinston said.

Another suggestion brought to Superintendent Hofmeister was a push for more social studies and history education, such as more inclusive subject matter and perspectives.

“We're a very diverse state and there are a lot of diverse viewpoints,” Kuehn said. “Right now, maybe we're not at our best at understanding each other's viewpoints.”

“As a Black male, I leave knowing more about a Black male than anything,” Kingston said. “When I graduate tomorrow, I’m going to know more about a white male. Throughout this fight for equity and inclusion and diversity, I think I've realized that it's broad and it's something we need to figure out now.”

Pinkston attended Putnam City High School's first Black history assembly and created a minority leadership program.

As the school year ends, Pinkston wondered if this would be the last year of his new implementations, following new legislation that limits gender and race programs in K-12 schools.

“It was an example of us taking a step forward to be pushed back five steps,” Pinkston said.

Both Kuehn and Pinkston are graduating high school and intend to attend college as political science majors.

Their biggest takeaway from serving on the council was being a voice for students and learning how policies are made.