Polson senior selected for state advisory board

POLSON — Polson senior Mariah Hamel was selected to

Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau’s 2011-2012

Student Advisory Board.

“I’m really excited to welcome Mariah to the student

advisory board,” Superintendent Denise Juneau said. “The feedback

she will provide is extremely valuable as we work community by

community to improve the graduation rate and educational

opportunities for all students.”

Student advisory board members were first nominated

by local schools and community members and also had to apply for

selection to the board. Juneau received more than 70 applications

from 51 communities across the state. The board members, in grades

9–12, come from rural communities such as Wibaux and Alberton and

from larger communities such as Billings and Missoula. They

represent the diverse range of experiences and backgrounds of

Montana students.

Juneau continued, “As adults, we often make policy

decisions without consulting those who are most impacted by those

decisions — the students. I am committed to always putting the

needs of Montana students at the center of my decision-making as we

work to ensure our kids continue to receive a world-class

education.”

The first meeting of the 2011-2012 Student Advisory

Board will be held Nov. 9 and 10 in Helena.

The board consists of 40 high school students from 30

Montana schools. The student advisory board is part of Juneau’s

statewide initiative, Graduation Matters Montana. Graduation

Matters Montana aims to increase the number of students who

graduate from high school and to ensure students graduate college

and career-ready through collaborative partnerships with schools,

community organizations, businesses and youth.