Student ASHLEY SVEC Appointed to State Board of Education
Student ASHLEY SVEC Appointed to State Board of Education
Norwin High School student Ashley Svec, who has just completed 10th grade, has been appointed to the Pennsylvania State Board of Education as the 2019-2020 Junior Representative.
This is an extraordinary honor— a first for Norwin School District since the State Board’ s student representative program began in 2009— and it speaks highly of her academic and extracurricular achievements. Pennsylvania’ s two student representatives – one junior, one senior – serve as non-voting representatives.
In this role, Ashley will interact with the 22 State Board members in Harrisburg and help shape long-term education policy for the 1.8 million K-12 students in Pennsylvania, as well as the nearly 680,000 students impacted by our higher education institutions.
“ I was thrilled when I was chosen to be the upcoming 2018-2020 State Board of Education Representative,” Ashley said.“ I am honored to have this unique opportunity to represent not only the Norwin School District, but students in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
Ashley has served on the High School Student Council, including a recent role as School Board Representative earlier in the 2017-2018 school year. Mr. Patrick MacLaughlin, Norwin High School Student Council Co-Sponsor, called Ashley an outstanding advocate for students.
“ She has added tremendous opportunity and insight for our local organization within Norwin High School, and I look forward to her advocacy for students, both within Norwin High School, and at the state level,” Mr. MacLaughlin said.
Since September 2009, two high school students have served on the State Board of Education. The Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils( PASC) is charged with the responsibility of recommending two high school students to hold the student representative positions through an application process.
Norwin Students Serve as Panelists for Anti-Bullying Campaign of Western PA
Workshop
NORWIN SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
orwin
34 NORWIN
The Anti-Bullying Campaign of Western PA brought together a broad cross-section of key school, community, local and regional leaders with students on the topics of school safety, violence prevention and youth empowerment, for a day of education, dialogue and planning. The workshop, held in April, was sponsored by the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit.
This event highlighted student voices on the topic of student bullying. Eleven students representing five school districts in Westmoreland County answered some very challenging questions regarding bullying in our schools.
They were asked to identify what adults might be missing and how teachers and school leaders can provide better support for students. Students spoke openly and honestly and provided some very helpful direction for those who attended.
Two Norwin High School students – Dean Ayres and Adelynn Rosner – served on the panel discussion. Dean Ayres also designed the event logo( see inset photo). Norwin administrators also attended, including Mr. Michael Choby, High School Principal; Mr. Tim McCabe, High School Assistant Principal; Dr. William Kerr, Superintendent of Schools; Dr. Stacey Snyder, Director of Special Education and Student Services; Mrs. Brianna Mainwaring, Coordinator of Special Education and Psychological Services; and Mrs. Allison Brooks, Coordinator of Special Education and Gifted Services.
Building on the efforts of this day, the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit will begin work on an“ Anti-Bullying Toolkit for Students,” said Mr. Timothy S. Hammill, Curriculum Services Director at the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit.
“ We will continue to involve students and schools in this process and are hopeful that we will arrive at a solution that better addresses this problem that impacts the daily lives of our students,” Mr. Hammill said.