VALDOSTA – State School Superintendent Richard Woods has selected 108 Georgia students to serve on his 2016-2017 Student Advisory Council. Three Valdosta City Schools’ students will continue serving for the 2016-17 school year. Beth-Anne Thornton, Jani Christopher and Owen Anderson were selected for the 2015-16 term and will continue to serve this school year.

Throughout the school year, these middle and high school students will meet with Superintendent Woods to discuss the impact of state policies in the classroom. Members of the Student Advisory Council will also discuss other issues related to education, serve as the Superintendent’s ambassadors to their respective schools, and participate in service projects to benefit schools and students.

“Meeting with my Student Advisory Council has been, and will continue to be, an invaluable part of my decision-making process,” Superintendent Woods said. “To develop child-focused, classroom-centered policies, we have to hear directly from students. We can only improve their educational experience by bringing them to the table.”

“We are very excited to have three of our middle school students represent Valdosta City Schools on Superintendent Woods’ Student Advisory Council. From past experiences, we know that allowing students to provide input on their own educational process will only provide positive outcomes for our community and specifically their peers,” said Dr. Todd Cason, superintendent of Valdosta City Schools.

Members were selected from a pool of more than 800 students who applied to serve on the council. Students were chosen based on the strength of their essay answers, which focused on their ideas for public education and the ways their own educational experience could be improved. The students selected attend public schools all over the state.

“It was refreshing and valuable to hear these students’ feedback and ideas,” Superintendent Woods said. “This is a fantastic group of students with great ideas for the future of our educational system, and I can’t wait to work with them. I’d like to thank every student who took the time to apply and share their thoughts.”

Meetings of the Student Advisory Council will be held September 12, November 7, February 13, and April 10 for middle school students, and September 13, November 8, February 14, and April 11 for high school students at the Georgia Department of Education’s offices in Atlanta. Details will be sent via email to selected students.