SMART Student Selected to Join Rhee’s High School Cabinet

Sarah Santana, an active student in the Coalition’s SMART program, was selected to join Michelle Rhee’s High School Cabinet on Monday. The Cabinet is made up of 20 to 25 high school students, usually one from each school. The purpose of the cabinet is to compile a list of problems that students feel need to be addressed in their schools and present it to Michelle Rhee when they meet for their monthly meetings. Sarah is a limited-English Proficient (LEP) student from Roosevelt high school and is a leader in the SMART program. She has been active with the Coalition since last year. Over the last few months, Sarah has started a club in her high school and has organized other LEP students to work with the Coalition. These students are learning to be leaders and to advocate for their rights. With full support from the Coalition, Sarah applied to be a member of Rhee’s Cabinet. Having been selected, she now represents the voice of all LEP students in DCPS.

In the past the students have brought issues on academics, food, safety and more to her attention. They also offered suggestions on solutions and ways to improve D.C. Public Schools (D.C.P.S), and took part in creating the changes. The Cabinet came into existence when Michelle Rhee was appointed as Chancellor of D.C.P.S. in 2007. In the past the students were selected by the school principals and had to be seniors. This year they decided to open up the opportunity to sophomores and juniors as well, and changed the selection process. Students were required to submit an application and complete answers to two essay questions, which would be the basis of selection. This is the first time students the process of selecting a candidate is based on student applications rather than nominations from principals.