School Board Student Representatives

Three Seattle Public Schools students were sworn in as the 2026-27 Student School Board Representatives on Aug. 26. Representing Chief Sealth, Franklin, Garfield, and West Seattle high schools, these student leaders bring a powerful blend of experience, advocacy, and vision to the board.  

Senior Josephine, now in her second term, joins fellow senior Yohanna Micheal and juniors Eliana Faunce and Frena Tsegazeab in championing educational equity, inclusive policies, and student voice. Together, they aim to elevate mental health support, sustainability efforts, school safety, and equitable access to resources across the district—ensuring that every student, regardless of background or pathway, is heard and empowered. 

Student Representative positions were created in response to student advocacy led by the NAACP Youth Council about the need to uplift and increase BIPOC student voices within Seattle Public Schools. The Seattle School Board recognizes the organizational structure of the district can create a wall between decision makers and the students the district serves. Board members also believe students possess valuable insight and should have a voice in the education received from the district and the decisions made by the board.    

Meet this year’s School Board Student Representatives:

Josephine Mangelsen

12th Grade, West Seattle High School, Skills Center

Josephine Mangelsen brings a unique blend of classroom experience, leadership, and community engagement to her role. 

The junior is the vice president and co-founder of her school’s Jewish Student Union, where she fosters inclusion and cultural awareness. Her passion for educational equity and student voice led her to join the Seattle School Board, with a mission to drive meaningful change through leadership and connection. 

Through her Skills Center program, Josephine interned in a kindergarten classroom at John Muir Elementary, an experience that deepened her appreciation for the dedication of educators and the importance of nurturing school environments. She believes in amplifying the voices of those often unheard—especially younger students and marginalized communities—and is committed to bridging the gap between decision-makers and the diverse student population they serve. 

Josephine’s priorities include: 

• Elevating Career and Technical Education (CTE) and promoting non-traditional educational pathways as valid and valuable options. 
• Uplifting underrepresented voices across the district, including those marginalized by race, gender, sexuality, religion, ability, or age. 
• Empowering younger students to be seen as thoughtful advocates and contributors to school culture and policy.

Yohanna Micheal

12th Grade, Franklin High School

Bio coming soon!

Eliana Faunce

11th Grade, Chief Sealth High School

Bio coming soon!

Frena Tsegazeab

11th Grade, Garfield High School

Frena Tsegazeab is a hardworking student at Garfield High School, where she’s president of Bulldogs Against Overdose, serves as vice president for Science Olympiad, treasurer for HOSA, took part in Fred Hutch, and shares a passion in photography. Frena values leadership and honestly and strives to become a supportive role model for her peers.

As a student representative on the Seattle School Board, Frena looks forward to bringing authentic student viewpoints into district decisions. In this role, she intends to focus on initiatives centered on educational fairness, campus safety, and environmental responsibility. Her ultimate aim is to ensure that every student has access to the foundational academic and holistic support required to succeed.

Frena plans to approach her new role with a focus on open communication. Her goal is to push for district-wide improvements that directly fix the challenges students face daily, while ensuring that final decisions lead to direct classroom results.

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Contact Student Representatives

As representatives of the larger student body, School Board Student Representatives are charged with engaging students and student groups for feedback and with carrying forward the diverse perspectives of Seattle Public Schools students. 

Read more about the role of School Board Student Representatives.

If you’d like to submit comments, questions, or feedback to the Student Representatives, please use the form below. Please be aware that written communications sent to Student Representatives are potentially subject to public disclosure, in whole or in part, pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, RCW 42.56.