Leonardtown, MD – St. Mary’s County Association of Student Councils held elections for the Student Member position of the Board of Education of St. Mary’s County (the Board) on Thursday, February 4, 2016, at the General Assembly. Roma Kankaria, who is part of the STEM Academy at Great Mills High School, was elected to this position and will replace the current Student Member of the Board, Sarita Lee also from Great Mills High School.
Roma is a 10th grade student at Great Mills High School and an active member of her school’s Key Club, Best Buddies, and tennis team. She also participates in Chamber Orchestra of Southern Maryland in Concert (COSMIC) and volunteers in her community. Examples include Relay for Life and the Summer Lunch and Learn Program. Through her school and community involvement, Roma demonstrates her leadership skills and commitment to active citizenship.
When Roma assumes this elected leadership position on July 1, 2016, her focus will center on character education and increasing school personalization. Character education, according to Roma, is an essential component to cultivate a positive and engaging learning environment, which is built on respect, responsibility, compromise, and persistence. These character principles are necessary for students to collaborate with others and engage in the democratic process. Furthermore, Roma wants to increase awareness about the importance of personalization strategies to improve student achievement and success, such as youth-mentoring programs.
Roma will become an official member of the Board of Education and provide an informed student viewpoint to the Board. While serving as the Student Member of the Board, Roma will be sharing information with students and the community on an array of educational concerns. This student leadership position also includes being an active participant at student-related and school-related activities.
For more information, contact Mr. Kevin T. Wright, Supervisor of Instruction for Social Studies, by telephone at 301-475-5511, ext. 32128, or by e-mail at ktwright@smcps.org.