As early voting continues across North Carolina, local high schoolers also have something to vote for: 2025 student advisor to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education.
Eight juniors and two sophomores have been named finalists in the competition. All CMS students in grades nine through 12 can cast a vote. Voting runs from Oct. 21 to Nov. 5 , Election Day 2024. The winner will be announced Nov. 6.
The position was created in 2016 as a way for students to connect with the board and have their concerns represented. The student advisor attends each of the board’s meetings and is able to offer opinions on board decisions. However, the position is not a voting member of the board.
The student advisor also serves as an officer of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Youth Council, the unified student advisory council for CMS, Mecklenburg County and city of Charlotte governments, and CMS partner Generation Nation. The student advisor selected for 2025 will serve January through December.
The current student advisor is Ailen De Bonis, a senior at Ardrey Kell High School.
Applications increased by 59% this year, from 93 in 2023 to 148 in 2024. For the first time, students applied to the position from every comprehensive high school in the district.
“The student advisor plays an important role in Board thinking and decisions,” said Dee Rankin, vice-chair of the Board of Education and one of the finalist selection committee’s seven members. “We are pleased that the push to attract a large pool of candidates was successful and that students saw this as a real opportunity to help inform Board decisions through their student perspective.”
Here are this year’s finalists:
▪ Gabriel Guerra Barceló: 11th grade, Charlotte Engineering Early College (CEEC)
Originally from Venezuela, Barceló and his family arrived in the United States seven years ago, and he sees it as his duty to be an active, engaged community member. He’s worked with the Hispanic Contractors Association of the Carolinas and is actively involved at his church.
“I hope to be a voice for my community and advocate for minorities like students with special needs, religious minorities and students without access to the internet at home,” Barceló said at CMS’ candidate forum Wednesday.
If elected, he hopes to improve communication between the board and students, improve access to resources and help students prepare for success after graduation.
▪ Quinten Canty: 11th grade, West Charlotte High School
Canty serves as chief of staff for the Student Government Association at West Charlotte High School and is involved in community theater, having recently been cast as The Wiz in West Charlotte’s production of the musical by the same name.
He was inspired to run to represent underrepresented students and communities.
“I want to encourage, enhance and empower scholars at CMS and make sure they feel heard and valued,” Canty said Wednesday.
▪ Tatiana Collins, 11th grade, Independence High School
Collins is involved in several organizations and activities at her school, including Fellowship of Christian Athletes as well as speech and debate.
Her goal is to be a “voice” and effective go-between for students and the board, since she feels like most students aren’t currently very engaged or informed about what the board is doing.
She wants to focus on making sure students know what resources are available.
▪ Alejandra Flores, 11th grade, Olympic High School
Flores is an officer in her school’s chapter of the Technology Student Association and is an assistant coach in her neighborhood swim team.
She wants to focus on making CMS a safe space for all students, “regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexuality, mental illness or disability.” Flores also wants the board to adjust the district’s school absence policy to allow for more leniency for unforeseen excused absences.
“As a queer student, I know what it feels like to go through CMS schools feeling like you’re stuck, like you’re not in the right place and like your school isn’t supporting you,” she said. “I want to make it a safer space for everybody.”
▪ Sydney Glover, 11th grade, Garinger High School
Glover currently serves as historian in her school’s Student Government Association and is a two-sport athlete on Garinger’s Student Athlete Advisory Council.
Glover said she was inspired to run for the position after seeing inequalities different students and groups face. She wants to “be a voice for underserved students.”
She wants to promote better communication between the board and student body and plans to go to a number of different schools around the district to chat with students if elected.
▪ Katelyn Morton, 11th grade, Northwest School for the Arts
Morton is in her school orchestra and wants to push for more arts education at schools where students don’t have as many resources. She also wants to promote opportunities in literacy – both digital and otherwise.
She was inspired to run after hearing from other students about concerns with “budget cuts, bullying and opportunities in education,” and wants to ensure students of all backgrounds have equitable access to resources like test prep and transportation services. She also says communication between the board and students can be improved.
“The board is this big thing in the sky for students, and they don’t really know what’s going on,” she said.
▪ Ngozi Nwauwa, 10th grade, East Mecklenburg High School
The daughter of a CMS educator, Nwauwa said she’s focused on helping every student have what they need to achieve academically.
“You see how some students go through school and aren’t succeeding or meeting the levels of performance they’re supposed to, and I want to change that and give every student an opportunity to succeed,” Nwauwa said.
Nwauwa said she’s passionate about individualized resources and attention for students, particularly those with learning disabilities and differences.
▪ Lucy Silverstein, 11th grade, Providence High School
Silverstein is a swimmer and involved in theater productions around the Charlotte region. She’s especially passionate about inclusivity and support for all students because of her experience with ADHD and dyslexia.
“My grades suffered in early middle school because my academic needs weren’t met, and I was scared to speak up about what I needed,” she said. “Schools should be places where everyone feels valued, supported and has the opportunity to thrive.”
Silverstein is also focused on promoting inclusivity of all cultures and religions as well as advocating for additional mental health resources for students.
▪ Madden Wilkinson, 10th grade, Hopewell High School
Wilkinson is involved with the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at Hopewell High School and has a focus on expanding mental health resources for students.
“I want to make sure all students’ voices are heard and that changes are made based on their concerns,” Wilkinson said.
Students need to be more engaged and plugged into what’s happening with the board, Wilkinson said. Increased board communications on social media could be a valuable tool in promoting that, Wilkinson said.
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