001Good afternoon everyone. Today is September 29th, 2025 and we are here for the student success celebration committee. My name is Summer Hall. I am the chair of the committee. My co-chair Dr. Renee Moliner and board member Diana Altry as well as Angela Carter who sits on the dance as well who is the executive director for school leadership. I first want to thank you all for joining today. It's an awesome opportunity that we get to celebrate our students. Um so let's go ahead and get started. So thank you again for joining us for our very first meeting of the student success celebration committee. We are truly excited about the launch of this committee which is dedicated to celebrating and highlighting the achievements of our students across Akran public schools. These celebrations will showcase accomplishments at many
002levels and in many areas reinforcing the incredible impact of our school and program programs and schools. A little background. This committee was established by the resolution brought forward by board member and co-chair Dr. Moliner. Well, let's give you a hand of applause. Thank you so much for creating this. We appreciate you. She saw the need and put it to writing. So, uh, thank you for that. Um, and this was established and voted on by the board on May 27th, 2025. That resolution stated that the committee shall consist of no fewer than three board members appointed by the president with the superintendent and treasurer serving as exofilio members. It also called for the superintendent to name a staff member to serve as the liaison between the committee and the district. And that role has been filled
003by Dr. Carter. Angela Carter, I'm sorry, you're a doctor now. So, grow our own. Huh? No. That role has been filled by Angela Carter, executive director of school leadership. Thank you, Miss Angela. So the purpose of this committee, the purpose of the student success committee is simply is simple but powerful to collect, curate and publicly share student success stories, academic, athletic, artistic, service related and personal that reflect the positive impact of Akran public schools. Each month we will highlight student nominations in the following areas: academic excellence, athletic achievements, art and creativity, service and leadership, personal triumphs. This will also allow us to recognize and elevate the incredible stories of our students while strengthening community pride in APS at all levels, elementary, middle, and high school. Also, [Music] I would like to recognize joining us is
004um Superintendent Otley and President Dr. Carla Jackson. You're welcome. So, let's go ahead and get started. Recognition of scholar board members and superintendent advisory committee. Today, we are especially honored to recognize our scholars, scholar board members, and our superintendent advisory committee members. I would first like to thank and also introduce Javon Culver, director of school counseling and student wellness, along with her team, Eric Fletcher and Jasmine Britain. [Applause] This team has and will continue to work closely with our student board members and the other school leadership initiatives throughout the district. At this time, I'd like to invite our superintendent advisory committee members to introduce themselves, share why they have chosen to serve, and tell us a little bit about their future aspirations. So, I'll turn this over to um Mr. Fletcher and Mr. Britain. do.
005>> Fantastic. So again, my name is Eric Fletcher. Hi everybody. Y'all good? >> Man, be amazing. That's what I like to hear. So for our superintendent advisory committee, each school has a uh six representatives that will be a part of this committee uh with one being a scholar board member. So each high school has a scholar board member that will be um present not only for this committee but also at the um board me uh excuse me the board meeting where they will um talk about the representing their schools, things that are going on within um their community, their school community. But with the superintendent advisory committee and the students here have been selected by their school administration, school counselors to represent their school and some of them have self- selected to be a part
006of this advisory committee. We do have some returning um superintendent superintendent advisory committee members who have served last year as well as coming back this year. And we have some new So who's all our returning uh superintendent advisory members? Stand up. >> Stand up. [Applause] So all three are seniors representing um Acroni College STEM as well as Firestone High School represent represent. So we do have some certificates that the committee has prepared for our students. So when I say your name, you will come up here and receive your certificate. Hey, you three can sit off right now. Um, let me do that. First coming up, when you all come up, you're going to say your name, your school, and what are your aspirations for this school year, and why are you excited to be on
007this committee, the super superintendent advisory committee? Sounds good? Everybody good? It's okay to be nervous. >> It's a small crowd. Good. So, first up is um from Elllet High School, Natalie Dvilla Davia. [Applause] Um my name is Natalie Devia. I'm from Elllet High School. Um my aspirations for this school year is to get a 3.0. 0 and get CCP classes for next year most likely. And I'm excited. Oh, I'm excited. >> I'm excited um to be in this board. Um well, to be a part of this board member for to be able to like represent my school and the voices of those that are like that need to be heard. So yeah, that's why Uh, next up we have Noah Wade. [Applause] Hello everyone. My name is Noah Wade. I go to Firestone High School
008and I'm a junior. I thank you guys for having me for the student success uh celebration committee. I really want to have my voice heard in uh Akran public schools and I hope to change Akan public schools for the better. Thank you guys for having me. >> Next up we got Troy. [Applause] >> Thank you so much. Um good afternoon board members and guests. Uh, my name is Troy Weiss. Um, I'm a senior at Firestone High School. My future plans are to attend Kent State and double major in fashion and merchandising and fashion and design. Um, and I'm ecstatic to be on this committee because um I I represent the the less privileged whether it's that kids don't have the time to do this, whether it's kids don't have the energy, kids don't have the
009courage, kids don't have the confidence. Um, they are not here right now. Um, but I am and I I take that as no small feat. Um, because it is a blessing. Um, so it again I am excited to be on this committee to represent Firestone. Um, because if you know me, I'm very much stone to the bone. Um, so yeah, thank you so very much. >> One moment. Um, President Jackson, >> thank you for recognizing me, Madam Chair. I appreciate this time. So, Troy actually, um, I saw him yesterday >> at the zoo doing a phenomenal job. If you know when you've been around the district for our different celebrations um, in music and the arts, he is always present, a great voice. but he was there singing with multiple other of his classmates at
010the um rededication of the John Brown monument and they did a phenomenal job. So he is very active. I love seeing him in a beautiful personality and he represents not only APS but your community very well. I'm so proud every time I see you. So I wanted to recognize him for that. Thank you. >> Thank you so very much. >> And I want some pants like that. So I I need you to see you afterwards. See who made them. I need some Garfield Ram pants. >> And next up, we'll have from Garfield, um, Taan Cobin, [Applause] [Music] >> Ta, I'm sorry. >> Um, hello. My name is Ta Cobin. I am a senior at Garfield High School. Um, I'm happy to be a part of this program so I could be a voice for other
011students at Akan public schools that are scared to speak up and uh say things on their own. Um, what was the other question? I'm sorry. >> Oh, um, just to graduate high school, go to medical school and um, college. I want to be a pediatrician. So, yeah. [Applause] Next up, we have a T car. A car [Applause] >> right there. >> Hi, my name is Ai Carr and I'm from Ella High School. My major right now, I'm trying to get into international business and computer engineering integrated together. And I hope I get into CA uh Kent State. But my goals for now is to get 4.0. And I'm just really glad to be here, honestly. And I'm part I'm glad to be part of the community and to help out. And yeah, I'm just really
012glad to be here. Next up, we have Zion Roberts. [Applause] You Hello, my name is Zan Roberts. I'm from North High School. Um, I hope to be part of National Honor Society by the end of this year. And I also hope to have all A's in my classes. But the main thing I'm looking forward to is being part of this committee because if you go to North High School, I run not only the morning announcements, but I also run the newswriting team and I'm student ambassador. So it's everybody knows me, so I might as well be here for North as well to represent them. And if you also been to North, you would also know that North is good, but it also is lacking in other things. So my hopes is also to get those
013things heard and fix so that North is Oh, it already is the definitive best school in Akran public schools. Thank you. >> Okay, >> he forgot to introduce Melvin. >> I know. Obviously, can you tell us about your um your friend? >> Um yeah, this here is Melvin. He's my main man and wingman. Uh he has his own page on the North News website. Everybody should have access to it if they have an Akran public schools account. Um yeah. [Applause] Next up, we have Daria Irving from STEM. [Applause] >> Good afternoon everyone. My name is Daria Irvin. I'm in 10th grade. I go to STEM High School. Um, I'm very grateful to be here to represent my school and see the changes in the community. Um, I aspire to finish high school and go to
014college for so sorry. Um, I aspire to go get my degrees for um, oh my gosh, so sorry. Like I don't do a lot of public speaking. Okay, I'm really new to this. Okay, so cut. Um, I aspire to go to college to go get my medical degrees, become an anesthesiologist. So my goals for this um is to make sure things change in Akran and see the better because Akan really does deserve everything and I'm very grateful to be able to help. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next up is Wyatt Quaser from STEM as well. [Applause] Hello, my name is Wyatt Kaser. I am a sophomore at Akran STEM High School. My aspirations are to graduate and join the Air Force and learn how to become an EMT. And I'm actually excited to be
015in here because I get to speak my mind on things others can't. [Applause] Uh, next up is Danica Manzo. [Applause] >> Hi, my name is Dana Manzo. I'm a junior at STEM High School and I'm very grateful and thankful to be here. Um, I really want to have a voice for other kids at my school. And um, I want to like not even just at my school, but other schools at Akran public cuz I have friends from other schools. Um, I just got the email today that I have the opportunity to be a part of the National Honor Society and um, thank you. Um, and I want to go to University of Akran or um, Cincinnati for mechanical engineering with a minor in business and hopefully explore aerospace engineering a little bit. So, >> next
016up we have um, Sai Wilson. [Applause] Um, hi. My name is S. Wilson and I'm a sophomore at um, STEM High School and I'm glad I'm glad to be here cuz I feel like this is a good opportunity to help improve other schools. Um, some goals for me are to uh graduate from high school and then attend the University of Akran so I can get a degree in computer engineering. [Applause] So with the superintendence advisory committee, um the students who represent their school well, we'll meet three times throughout the year. Um during that time, we'll go over some different leadership opportunities, talk about some personal professional development opportunities, and then they'll have the opportunity to have lunch with the superintendent where they'll bring up different topics that they want to discuss um as a team,
017and they'll take that information back to their schools, and they'll, you know, figure out ways of how to improve not only their school, but APS as a district and have an opportunity to sit with the superintendent, pick her mind, and hear about, you know, things that she has going on, what her plans are for the district um will definitely help our students grow in in many many ways. So, three times a year we have those dates already scheduled. The students have that information. Um if the board members would like to attend those meetings, we can send those dates out as well so that you can be present and see what's go what our students are doing during that time. I think we have one more. Um, so next up we have Gabriella Hood. [Applause] >>
018Okay. >> My name is Gabriella Hood. Um, I'm from I do online school, but my main school is Firestone. And my goals is in life is like to overall treat people right and achieve my goals as a musician and an artist and finish my education and go to college and make a good reput reputation of myself and just um really uh make people feel happy and do my best in life. That's basically my goals. [Applause] >> Okay. So, that's wraps up the superintendent um advisory committee members. Um those who aren't present, we'll make sure that they get their certificates at the uh next meeting. >> Okay. Do you want to just acknowledge them by saying that their names that who are not present? >> Let's see here. >> Okay. You don't ask to if it's
019gonna take it eye contact. That's okay. >> Oh, it's We got um Ruby Lamny from Agony College, Zia Blair from Acronory College. Um we you I'm going to mess this students. There we go. Bellisan Ma, you knew what was happening. Yeah. See, that's why I love those student board members like that. They they you know make me look good. Um Journey Taylor from Akan Early College, Adeline Zurich from Akan Early College, we have a Jaden Sharp from um APS online, Joshua Moore, um Normain Alan from APS online. We also have from AAA they're student board member. Um Josiah simpler Mitchell from BookTo, Aerys Graves from Bookto. Michaela Thomas from Book, Prince Sims from Bookto, as well as Germaine Emanuel from BookTo. Um, from East, we have Christopher Russell, Jayla Martin, Casey Combmes, Cordell Bis, and
020Emily Bale. from Elllet, Kennedy, Keith, Christian Snuggrass, Brian Pewitt, and Noah Waters from Firestone, Fallon uh Highfield, Jerome Simper, Jaden Jackson, and student board member from Garfield, Jean Yang, Ray Sean Hamilton, Terion Chapman, Taylor Corpin, and John Koy from North. Azie Makumbo, Simon Twang, Janiah Miller, and Jacqueline Igorasa. Sounds good. And then from STEM, uh, Braden Bailey are those who are not present. >> Thank you so much, Mr. Fletcher. So, next I well I don't want to be remiss to just give a special thank you and shout out to Rebecca Hixon um culinary class from Elllet. She and her students provided the refreshments. So, please make sure when you depart to stop by the refreshment table and grab something to drink and some cookies. All right. So, next and again congratulations to you all. Um,
021thank you. Next, we would like to hear from our student board members who will introduce themselves before taking the oath of service. >> All right. Good evening. My name is Jasmine Britain and I have I'm proud to serve these students and help them get their voices out there. Um, I know some of you students, you might not have heard your name for the first round. So, that means that you are a scholar board member. So, you'll hear your name this go round. So, we're going to start with Aker Early College, Shalia Davis. [Applause] Hi everyone, my name is Shaylia Davis. I'm a senior at Akan Early College. My aspirations for this year are to just finish for one, stay motivated, and I want to do everything. I want to sign up for all the clubs
022I can, all the organizations that I can, and just be involved. Um, I'm very excited to be here and speak up for everybody who feels like their voice is not heard. And there was something else I was supposed to say. Is that it? Oh, I already did that. Okay. Well, that's it. Thank you guys. [Applause] Next we have from Firestone, Brooke Euing. [Applause] >> Um hello. Um I am Brooke Yuing. I am a junior at Firestone High School. I'm really excited to be a part of this. I really want to be more involved with my community at Firestone and APS as a whole, learning different perspectives from other schools to like so that we can work together to make our system better. Um, after high school, I want to go to either University of Akran
023for biomedical engineering or Ohio University for music therapy. [Applause] [Music] Next we have Lenel Turner from Garfield High School. Hi, my name is Lenel Turner. I'm a junior and I want our school to be better like as a whole because a lot going on. Yeah. And um when I what I want to do when I get older, I want to do cosmetology and lashes and all the other new stuff that I learn. And that's about it. [Applause] And our last present board member is Jordan Leon. [Applause] My name is Jordan Leon. I attend STEM high school. I'm a senior. Honestly, my plans after high school, of course, graduate, of course. Um, then I plan on playing D1 baseball while um majoring for cyber criminology, cyber crim criminology at Kent. And I'm honestly excited to be
024back. You know, my speech last year uh rewarded us with House 33 for homecoming this year. So, I'm glad my speech had some positive impacts to it, and I just happy to have a voice in APS again. [Applause] >> Thank you. And congratulations all of you for taking the time to come out today and just stepping up to the plate by showing leadership because remember, someone is watching you. So everything that you're doing, all the moves that you make, how you carry yourself in the community at school, you have someone, an underassman or even someone in your grade level that's watching you. So you're not only just a student, but your mentors, your leaders, um, and you're all going to be amazing. You're already amazing. So let's go ahead and get started with the swearing
025in of the student board members. It is my great pleasure to welcome Judge Connie High Totower, a domestic relations judge and common police court presiding judge who will officially swear. And our student board members, Judge High Tower, thank you so much for join um you can do it right up there. Yep. But I just want to say as you walk up there, thank you so much for taking the time out to come down here to APS and swearing our students to make this moment special. >> Is there an oath? >> There is an oath. I have it right here. And all the student board members, if you can just come up front. Um, are they coming up this? Where are they going to stand? This way. >> Okay. All right. Well, before I swear you
026in, you know, they always say judges always have something to say. So, I wanted to say how incredibly proud I am of the five of you, as well as the students who I heard speak earlier here today. I want to tell you that nowadays we have too many times when young people are speaking up and saying the wrong things. And so, you know, you can think, you can be thankful that we have youth not only willing to say the right things, but willing to step outside of the box because sometimes when you make decisions to be a leader, people are talking about you and saying, "Why would you do that?" You know, because they'd rather that you sit in the background. And so, all of you are to be commended on be deciding to take
027a leadership role, talking about what you want to do in the future and going to college. And understand for every person that talks about you because they don't agree with what you want to do in the future, you're going to see a room full of people like us and people like me and those on the board who've succeeded in doing different things in life. We are all going to be cheering you on. So whenever that occurs, just think, you know, I am not listening to the naysayers. I'm going to listen to what I'm doing now. I'm going to be a leader and I'm going to make a difference. And with that, I'm going to go ahead and I'm going to swear you guys in. All right. So, I need you all to raise your right
028hand. That's the opposite hand from what I have. All right. And then I am going to um first read this off and then after I'm done, then all of you would respond. I do. Move this out the way. Do you solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Ohio, and that you will perform faithfully the duties as a member of the Board of Education of the Akran City School District, Summit County, Ohio, to the best of your ability and in accordance with the laws now in effect and herein after to be enacted. during your continuence in said office and until your successor is elected and qualified. If you agree and you so solemnly swear or affirm, please say, "I do." >> I do. >>
029All right. Thank you. Congratulations. All right. So, each one of you is going to sign. Well, I want them to sign up here so we can get a picture. Come on. come up here and sign. >> Your signature. >> All right, take that with you and go over there. And the next time, go ahead. Thank you. Go over there. Come on up. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Take that with you and go over there. And last but not least, right? Oh, that's an interesting signature. Thank you. Well, congratulations and to all the folks who are here supporting them. It is always refreshing to see people supporting the youth. So, um I want to get in that picture though. >> Okay. All right. >> And also board members, would you like to take a picture?
030We'll take we'll first do it with the student board members and then we'll do a photo with the superintendent advisory committee >> and the families. >> Okay. Who's Can I take it with just them? >> Not that I don't want you guys. You guys can come in. You guys can come in afterwards. Right. Um, good. Am I taking >> What's that? >> Oh, it is. >> Should we back up? [Music] Scholar board. One, two, three. Scholar board. >> Get out of this. You guys can't take it. any pleasure. >> Without you, this would be none. So, >> after this one, if you guys will all stand and we'll have the advisory um committee join members, come on up. >> All the students back there, come on up here. still have to ask Troy. Make sure
031you see the pan. >> We'll probably need to make two rows. So, if you are challenged, just step up to it. We all set up. [Music] >> Ready? Say cheese. Perfect. Excellent. All good. Thank you guys. >> Congratulations. >> You guys, I do need to collect your You know, I would also like to acknowledge um one of our students who's a super superintendent advisory committee member. His mother is a teacher over at Firestone, Mrs. Samantha Wade or an educa. Yes. So, I want to acknowledge you because she is an educator and her son is in um the district as well. So, thank you, mom. Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. You are excellent. And I wanted to shout out Miss Wade as well, if you don't mind, to come to the microphone because, you know, when
032we talk about excellence looks different. We know that her child is a student board member, but I met her in her professional capacity of excellence. I met her um during the the um bicesentennial event with Sneaker Academy with Mr. Dominique Waters who we know was the um facilitator of Sneaker Academy in one of our summer programs. But what's so excellent about Miss Suede at Firestone? Many of you know since I've been on the board, I love talking about the fourth E entrepreneurship, right? How can we leverage that? What can we do? I love what Dominic Guadres is doing with Sneaker Academy. But this hair teacher who was there when I got to talk to her and I want you she's a graduate of H.B.CU DCU Central State and so I went high school >> I'm
033going there 10:40 >> anyways >> but when we talk about legacy and lead leadership and because this is the student success committee and what they see they can be and you know when you see people like Judge High Tower who's gorgeous and she serves as a judge what they see they can be and that matters people may not want to say it but I want to I want you to tell us a little bit about your background and what you do at Firestone. And this is why I brought her up because again, she attended 1040 Bookto High School. She went on to Central State and that's what made me bring you to the mic because it's important that we tell our stories and those journeys because what they see they truly can be and you're
034a product of 1040 and you're doing excellent things. So, Miss Wade, >> thank you for that. Thank you. I appreciate that. And I talk to Troy all the time about my H.B.CU pride. Um and when we spoke at the uh Akran bsentennial we were talking to uh Dominic Waters and uh I had spoken about my pride in my my bookto background my central state background and how I became a manufacturing engineer. I heard a lot of engineers in the audience, engineers to be and you can do it, especially my ladies. And I um got my degree from manu from Central State University in manufacturing engineering, moved to Texas, worked as a manufacturing engineer, came back home, got married, then went into pharmaceutical sales, then went into nonprofit as well. And so my engineering degree took
035me a lot of places. And then it also landed me in education where I then received a fellowship uh from Woodro Wilson to um get my masters in education and they were looking for someone in a STEM background and it could have been in biology, it could have been in engineering, science, physics, whatever. Um, but they wanted someone who was going to give back into the community. And um, I had to, it was funny because the stipulation was, well, you're going to have to work in an urban district and you're going to have to stay for at least 3 years. And I'm like, I'm I'm home. Like, okay. Right. It was not a big deal. And so um when we we had talked about that um uh she had given me such praise and I
036appreciate that because you don't give your own self your flowers a lot of times you just work work and as a mother and my son uh Noah would like to be a civil engineer. He'll probably be my only child that becomes a civil engineer. I appreciate that. Um but um I uh I thank you for giving me this platform especially with my ladies. You can be an engineer, you can be a musician, uh her business, you can be whatever it is that you want to be. You just have to take the journey, take the walk. Whatever it is that you need to do, do it. Don't let anybody else tell you that you can't do it. There's even some family members that may not have that faith in you because they can't see it. But
037know that representation here lets you know that you can be anything that you want to be. My grandmother told me that. My mother told me that, right? You know, y'all, some of you know my mother um who is a a retired APS um teacher as well. And so, you can be anything you want to be and I thank you guys for giving me this platform. >> Thank you, Member Hall, for that moment. And like you said, when we talk about grow our own, what a wonderful example. And shout out to Woodro Nash as well for pouring back into the community that now pours back into our children. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, President Jackson. Also, before I move over and uh give the mic to my co-chair, um parents, could you please stand up?
038Who's in the room? To all the parents. [Music] I would just like to say thank you because without you, it would be none of them. And um continue to pour into your child and children. Listen to your parents. I know you may think we know it all cuz we do, right? We we do. But you can learn a lot from the struggles that we had to go through to get to the point that we are now to make sure that you don't have to go through those same struggles. Okay. Um so before I start preaching, I'd like to pass the mic over to coach here and what is it? Developer, creator, curator of the student success program, Dr. Molinar. >> Thank you. Um, I don't have a speech prepared. Um, but I will say that
039the reason that I wrote the resolution for the student success committee is for you, the students. We are here for you. And we say so often, I'm here for the students. We would not have anything to do if you weren't here. And so, we want to make this the best um, opportunity and the best learning that we can for you. This is maybe our fourth year of having scholar board members, but every year we're trying to get better with it and we're trying to give you more opportunities to come here to speak and to make a difference in your school and to highlight the the the good things, but also the things that need work. And so, um, I know previous to this year, sometimes, um, when people would come to our regular board meetings,
040sometimes they are really crowded. Sometimes there are a lot of people, sometimes it was tough. Um, I know one of the times when Zia came in and she was reading her scholar board um, thing, she said, "There are too many people." So, now you've all been here, you've already practiced, you've already spoken into the mic. it will get easier every time because we really truly want to hear from you. We need to hear from you. Um, and the student success committee, I don't want it to be overshadowed by other things that the board votes on in our actionable meetings. So, something like this where we get to spend the time to really hear from you, really focus on you, really highlight you, the student success committee is going to meet every month. And so every
041month we are going to hear from students, not just teachers talking about students, but bring you here, bring you to the mic. We want to hear from you. Um, and your parents as we celebrated the parents. Now, we want to celebrate with you. Um, and make sure everyone can come because we're all so proud of everything that you're achieving. And the snacks, I want to second again the snacks. Elllet is uh bringing the reception and so this is a time for us to all gather and socialize and focus on you. And the last thing is um this is very high school focused because of the scholar board members but not all of the student success committee meetings will be high school focused. So I know our superintendent outly loves to highlight all of our students
042K12. So I think uh in future meetings we'll have some students from every grade level and parents from every grade level and it's another opportunity for you our scholar board members and our uh superintendent advisory committee to talk to the younger students and be role models not just within your schools but with the other students in your cluster and around the community. So thank you all. Thank you for making this happen and I'm excited to see this opportunity develop into us really hearing the great things that Akran public schools are doing because there are amazing things happening in your building every day and this is our time to really spend time um talking about it. So thank you. >> Thank you Dr. Molinar. Um any other board members? Member Autry. Thank you, Madam Chair. I
043just want to echo everything everyone has else has said so far. Just continue to encourage you. Um, being nervous is normal and that may always be present. Um, but do not ever let that stop you from speaking your truth and keeping us around the table here honest because we exist for you. And so, keep going, keep doing what you're doing. I'm looking forward to hearing what you have to share with us. Um, and I do want to thank Dr. Monolar uh for her resolution in making this committee a reality. [Applause] >> Dr. Jackson. Thank you, Madam Chair. Everyone knows I love the young people. Even at work, I said I don't want to come if the kids not there, right? The young people are the reason for everything. And um listen, those braids ate down.
044as y'all say. That's what I thought you forgot to mention when you came to the mic, but and those pants. It's just exciting. This is your time and this is your platform. And I think as I just concur with everything that all of my colleagues have said and really um I want to focus on what member Autry said. This is your platform to be real and to be transparent because we work for you. and things that you think don't matter or when parents think, you know, if you're being overlooked and overshadowed, this is the platform for that because it's no reason for us to be here to agitate. And when things are good, that is good. But when they're not, then we need to make them good. And you need to know that we are
045your voice that we are the agitators for you for the change that you want to see. And this is the platform as member Monarch and Autry has stated. So we love the high level. We love when it's great, but when it's when it's not so great and you have concerns, let us work together to make it better for you so that Akran is welcoming for all students from all areas. All right. So, I just love you all and I'm so excited about this because as I said, I love the young people. So, thank you, Madam Chair, for this moment and thank you, member Mon, for the uh development. Sorry. Thank you because you're spawning my ideas because sometimes when I say things I'm theoretical and I don't say things um explicitly enough. So as far
046as this being the platform, we do have several committees and so scholar board members have been uh previously paired up with board members, but we had trouble sometimes um communicating and getting transportation and getting the scholar board members to come to the committee meetings because we do have three other committees. We have uh legal contracts and board policy. We have instructional policy. And we have finance, the funnest committee of them all, finance. Um but um as our scholar board members and as our superintendent advisory committee members, we have public comment at the beginning of any of those meetings. So everyone in the community is invited to any of those. The only uh aspect of that is you stand right there where you've already been and speak into the microphone. And so we do encourage you.
047We want to hear from you. Um and you also can email any of us directly, which I know um lots of scholar board members do. Um and we we get those emails um and we hear them. Um but also specifically for this committee, the celebration committee, the great things that are happening in your buildings. Um let us know. Let us I I know I don't know everything that we should be promoting. And so please when you meet with the superintendent, when you meet with um uh your uh three times the the lunch with superintendent and everything, tell us what you think we should be talking about here and what we should be celebrating here. So I really hope for that to be student driven and student presented. >> Thank you. Do you have anything to
048say? [Applause] Superintendent Ali, >> I look forward to working with all of you throughout this year and I just want to echo the sentiments of our board. You are representatives, so that means you do not come down with just what you want to say, but this is a perfect opportunity for you to go back to your school and talk to your other schoolmates and see what is going on, what are some issues, what are some positive things that's going on that you would like to share. So that's your charge is to go back, make sure everybody in your school knows the role that you play and figure out a way to get their voice and bring it back with you to when we meet next time. And I do look forward to working with all
049of you. And congratulations. [Applause] Um, thank you for that. What I just want to say real quick is I see amazing young adults. That could be anything. Um, I was at Target. Um, I have a guilty pleasure at Target. Okay, I know. But I was at Target the other night and I ran into four APS students. Um, three were at Garfield. One um, is at East and they were walking around and they said, "Hey, can we interview you?" You know, I'm painting and getting my house ready. So, I had a t-shirt and some sweats on and I said, "In interview me about what?" And they were like, "Well, Halloween." I said, "Okay." So, they asked me what was my favorite Halloween movie. Um, favorite costume, favorite character. Um, you know, we just got to chat
050and things like that. And I said, "Well, what school do you guys go to?" And they said Garfield. And one girl said East. I said, "Oh, okay." I said, "Well, um, I'm actually a board member, too." They were like, "What? Really?" I'm like, "Yeah." you know, um, but just them being able to come up to anyone and just say, "Hey, do you have a minute so I can ask a question gave them the, you know, I feel like, and I say myself as an APS graduate, having the ability to articulate, to talk, to speak, not be afraid." Um, yeah, I'm nervous, too. You all may not see that, but I am. I think I'm rocking my feet the whole time. But, um, just being able to just have that courage is something huge. And I
051think um I know going to Akran public schools gave me that courage too. So continue to do what you do and I just wanted to share that because those students didn't know who I was. I'm at the end of the day I'm still a regular person you know and they just came up asking questions and um you know we chatted and I was just excited that our students were able to just walk around even though someone came up to me said are they bothering you? I said, "No, they're they're kids and they're having fun and they were in their Halloween costumes." So, um, keep doing what you're doing. Keep shining. Um, so moving on, um, as we look ahead at our next meeting, which will be held October 13th at 5:30 p.m. Um, that meeting
052will include grow our own initiative, which which I'm sorry, grow our own initiative will be introduced. um also discussed on how we will look at recruiting and looking at our own scholars as we move into various positions within education. Um I know one young lady said she wanted to be a butician. Um well, we have the cosmetology and um the hair school. So hey, you can always come back and run that. Um, also recognize our summer sports achievements, celebrate our students with the highest OST scores, and continue to gauge our student board members, inviting one to each of our future student success celebration committee meetings um where they will play an intricate role in facilit facilitating the meeting. So if anyone if any of you are interested in sitting up here with us and helping
053to facilitate this meeting, please let us know. Um also I would also like to celebrate the students that are trying, you know, the students with the highest GPA that are always out and about in school. Those are the ones that always get recognized because they see you. But what about those students that are trying that had that 2.5 that got it up to that 2.8 that got it up to that 3.0 Oh, that now has that full ride. Um, or that student that struggle, that, you know, doesn't speak up, but they shine, you know. So, I want to also recognize those students, too, because we don't want to miss those as well. Um, so in closing, we're excited for this journey. We're excited about this committee um and the journey ahead and many stories of
054success that we'll have its privilege of sharing with our community. Thank you all again for being here today. I really appreciate you taking your time out. Board members, um administration, parents, and most of all you students. Um together we will ensure that our students will know that their achievements matter here at Akran public schools and we are proud to celebrate each and every one of you. So again, let's just give everyone a round of applause and continue to do your best. Oh, and Dr. Miller said, "Please take some cookies." So, we will go ahead and Dr. I'm sorry, Eric Fletcher. Jasmine, do you have anything to say? >> Okay. Wonderful. >> Wonderful. So, Student Success Celebration Committee, we've concluded our first meeting at 5:28 p.m. on September 29th. Again, our next meeting will be October
05513th. Thank you all and have a wonderful evening. [Music]