A Montgomery County high school junior has made the short list for the student seat on the state Board of Education.
Chosen as a finalist from a pool of candidates from across the state, Michael Solomon, of Silver Spring, announced his candidacy earlier this month, releasing a platform that includes improving student accessibility to technology in the classroom, creating a statewide structure of mental health resources and closing gaps in academic performance between white and minority students.
Other priorities for the Springbrook High School 17-year-old include providing modern facilities for all students and elevating the perspectives of students when discussing education issues and policies.
Well-known in county education circles, Solomon is a co-founder of the student group Montgomery County Students for Change, editor-in-chief of Springbrook High School’s student newspaper and education policy deputy for the Montgomery County Regional Student Government Association.
Through his activism, Solomon said he has expanded his knowledge of educational issues at the local and state levels.
“It definitely helped me grow as a person, advocate and leader to interact and work with people of different backgrounds on the local, state and national level,” Solomon said. “I think it prepared me to better represent the students of Maryland.”
Each candidate submitted a resume, four letters of recommendation from community and school leaders and essays from prompts addressing what they believe is the most important issue facing students, how to address that issue and what they believe is the role of the student board member.
Gov. Larry Hogan will appoint the student board member before summer to serve a one-year term on the 11-member state school board. The other finalist is a student from Baltimore County.
“Michael Solomon has become a strong leader and advocate for students in Montgomery County, across Maryland and the nation,” the Montgomery County school system said in a statement. “We are proud of the work he continues to do to improve the academic and social experience for students and congratulate him on earning a finalists position for the Maryland Student Member of the Board of Education.”
The student member of the state Board of Education has full voting rights, except for legal appeals and the removal or reprimand of personnel.
The student member attends the monthly business meetings and must be available to meet with students across the state and attend and speak at education and youth-related conferences.
The rising senior said he is considering studying economics at a college yet to be selected and hopes to attend law school.
Caitlynn Peetz can be reached at caitlynn.peetz@moco360.media
