Apply to be a Student Representative

Apply to be a School Board Student Representative

Applications are open March 23-April 20, 2026

Students entering their senior year are eligible to apply for a one-year term and students entering their junior year are eligible for a two-year term that will begin in August and conclude in June at the end of their senior school year.

2026-27 School Board Student Representative Application

What to expect if selected to be a Student Representative
Who Can Apply?
Application Process

What to expect if selected to be a Student Representative

Once selected, student representatives will need to obtain written permission to work from their parent or guardian.

School Board Student Representatives will receive an orientation from staff and board directors and will be paired with a School Board Director mentor for ongoing support.

Students will also have opportunities to participate in outside training, such as through the Washington State School Directors’ Association.

Compensation
School Board Student Representatives will receive $18.69/hour for their work in this role, not to exceed 20 hours a month.

In order to be compensated, students will be considered district hourly employees subject to standard onboarding and criminal background check requirements with parent/guardian consent. A criminal history does not automatically disqualify an applicant from serving as a School Board Student Representative.

School Board Student Representatives should expect to spend approximately ten (10) hours a month performing their duties. The estimated total hours of board meetings that School Board Student Representatives will attend in a month is six (6) hours.

School Board Student Representatives can expect to spend approximately four (4) hours a month on additional work, including reviewing meeting materials, meeting with peers, and meeting with support staff and board mentor.

The number of hours a month may vary, but should not exceed 20 hours.

School Board Student Representatives will also attend the regular meetings of the School Board of Directors on a roughly once-per-month rotation and will have an opportunity to report on the work of their committee, offer opinions on the motions and resolutions before the board, and communicate other topics of student interest or concern. These meetings are held Wednesdays at 4:15 p.m. at John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence.

School Board Student Representatives will be provided agendas and other materials in preparation for meetings and are also encouraged to attend board work sessions and other special meetings of the board.

Learn more about the Student Representative Role.

Meet the current Student Representatives.

Who Can Apply?

School Board Student Representatives should reflect the impressive diversity of the district, represent a variety of interests, perspectives, and backgrounds, and possess an awareness of challenges and barriers that they or others experience in education and in society.

Applicants must be:

A Seattle Public Schools student entering their junior or senior year of high school at the time of selection;
On track to graduate; and
Continue to be enrolled in Seattle Public Schools through the school year of their term.
While serving, School Board Student Representatives must be enrolled in courses that ensure normal progress towards graduation and maintain the number of credits necessary for advancement to the next grade level.

Application Process

The application includes two (2) phases: a written application form with short answer questions and an interview along with two recommendation submissions.

The initial written application is estimated to take up to an hour and a half (1.5 hours) to fill out.

The School Board Student Representative application consists of:

Phase I: Written Application
- Written short answers submitted through the online application form for student applicants
Phase II: Interview
- Interview (students selected by selection committee to move forward will receive request to schedule interview)
- Two recommendations submitted through an online recommendation form

Applications will be reviewed for eligibility and then evaluated by a student-led selection committee. Applicants selected will be invited to participate in an interview and submit recommendations.

To submit your application, you will complete the online form linked at the top of this page.

To fill out the online application form, you must be logged in to your SPS account.

The form cannot be saved, so please draft your responses to the short answer questions in a word document and copy and paste into the form.

To help you prepare before you complete the application, please draft your response to the following questions before you begin your application.

Short Answer Questions

Why do you want to serve as a School Board Student Representative? (4-6 sentences)
Seattle Public Schools’ five-year strategic plan, Seattle Excellence, is focused on changing broken systems and undoing legacies of racism in public education. The district, including the School Board, is actively working on building an anti-racist educational system, and ensuring students furthest away from educational justice thrive. Please share why you believe student voice is important in district decision-making and achieving the goals of Seattle Excellence? (4-6 sentences)
School Board Student Representatives should reflect the impressive diversity of the district and represent a wide range of interests, perspectives, and backgrounds. Student Representatives should also possess an awareness of the challenges and barriers that they or others experience in education and in society. Please describe experience you have that is relevant to this position and the perspectives you bring to the role. (4-6 sentences)
School Board Student Representatives will serve as a bridge between the School Board and the students across the school district. This means that relationship-building and effective communication will be crucial to serving effectively. Please describe how you will approach these key components of the role, and share any prior relevant experience. (4-6 sentences)
What are you hoping to accomplish in your time as a School Board Student Representative? What would you like to work on, and what impact would you like to leave? (4-6 sentences)

Applications will be reviewed for eligibility and then evaluated by a student-led selection committee. Applicants selected to move forward will be invited to participate in an interview and submit recommendations.

The selection committee will then select three applicants to recommend to the Board. Per School Board Policy No. 1250, the School Board will make the final selection of student representatives.

March 23, 2026: Application opens and students interested in applying or who want to know more about the process are asked to notify the School Board Office via email boardoffice@seattleschools.org or Let’s Talk.

April 20, 2026: Applications due. Complete applications consisting of answers to written questions are due.

Student-led Evaluation Committee reviews applications. Applicants selected to move forward in the first round will be asked to submit video statements. The Selection Committee will then select applicants for interviews, conduct interviews, and make the final selection.

June 2026: Finalists are presented to the Board during a Regular Board Meeting. School Board considers recommended candidates. School Board votes to finalize selection of the School Board Student Representatives.

August 2026: School Board Student Representatives will be sworn in and complete orientation.

September 2026: First Regular Board Meeting with School Board Student Representatives.

Who can provide references?
Your two references can be provided by anyone who can speak to your leadership skills and why you will be a good fit for the student representative role. This includes, but is not limited to, school staff, community mentors, or peers.

Family members and current or former Seattle School Board Directors cannot be references.

When will Student Representatives start?
Student Representatives will start in August 2025 with orientation. Their first required Regular Board Meeting will be the first meeting in September 2025.

How long will the Student Representatives serve?
Each cohort of Student Representatives serve for one school year. For example, applicants selected in to the Spring 2025 application cycle will serve for the 2025-26 school year.

What days of the week and times will student representatives work?
School Board meetings occur on weekdays (Monday through Friday). School Board Regular Meetings are once a month on Wednesdays from 4:15-8:15 p.m. Student Representatives will be required to attend one Regular Meeting a month on average but may choose to attend more.

What supports will Student Representatives have access to?
Student Representatives will be paired with a Board Director mentor to support their work. Student Representatives will also be provided with an orientation and onboarding in August 2025, engage in ongoing training as a part of the School Board’s work, and be connected with other student leaders in the district and across the state to support their leadership development and work as student representatives.

How can I get involved if I don’t want to be a student representative on the Board?
If you are interested in participating in leadership opportunities in the district, but don’t want to apply to be a Student Representative on the School Board there are many other opportunities.

You may participate in the student-led selection committee which will recommend who will be appointed to the student representative positions by the Board. You can also apply to be on the Superintendent’s Advisory Board.

Have Questions?
Contact us with questions about applying to be a School Board Student Representative.