Elliott Carter, a Senior at Charles B. Aycock High School (Wayne County Public Schools) has been appointed to the NC Superintendent Student Advisory Council.
The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SSAC) is a diverse group of high school students who advise state education leaders on topics that affect public school students.
The SSAC is composed of 11th- and 12th-grade students from all eight of the state’s educational regions. Students typically serve two years on the Council until the end of their senior year.
Their monthly meetings with the state superintendent and NCDPI staff members give them an opportunity to share the student perspective on a variety of issues, from school cell phone policies to higher education access.
After the interview process - Elliott was selected out of a pool of over 1800 students from across the state. For her interview, Elliott shared these views of public education in NC:
In one sentence or phrase, what is excellent about NC public schools?
“North Carolina public schools empower students to reach their full potential!”
What topic related to education is most important to you and why?
“College and career readiness. Every year many students graduate from our school system without fully understanding their post-graduate options or how to better prepare for them. Schools should provide more opportunities for possible career exploration, internships and guidance on navigating topics such as financial aid and college applications.”
What excites you most about NCDPI's recently released strategic plan?
“I love that the plan ensures not only academic success and the resources needed for it, but also mental health support and the resources needed for students' well being, character development and real-world learning opportunities like dual enrollment. It truly does show that North Carolina is committed to helping each and every student grow as an individual, become the best version of themselves and not just be defined as a test score.”
We are very proud of Elliott and are excited for her input into the policies that drive education in the state of North Carolina.
