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First Elected Student Trustee Makes History

Wed, 26 Nov, 2014

History was made at yesterday’s Edmonton Public School Board meeting when the first student trustee was announced. This is the first time in Alberta history a student trustee will be part of a school board. Johannah Ko, a Grade 12 student at Edmonton Christian High School, was elected by a group of her peers to serve on the board for the remainder of the 2014-2015 school year in this pilot initiative. Johannah will attend board and committee meetings, special events and professional learning opportunities.

High schools ran a nomination process to select one candidate per school and on November 20 the District’s Student Advisory Council cast their ballots on who the student trustee would be. The result of the vote was kept secret until the public board meeting yesterday, when Board Chair Sarah Hoffman was handed a sealed envelope to announce the name of the successful candidate.

Johannah, who has worked in a research lab at the University of Alberta, volunteers for the Canadian Blood Services Youth Committee and has recently travelled to Africa and Europe which she says expanded her world view.

“This is a great opportunity to have a visible student presence available at a district wide level,” said Ko. “I want to acknowledge individuals in the system and ensure they all have a voice. I want them to know they are part of a much larger voice across The District.”

Johannah will be mentored by Board Chair Sarah Hoffman for the rest of the student trustee’s term and receive a $2,000 education bursary.