Philadelphia students have new representation on school board

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Two new nonvoting student representatives have taken their seats on the Philadelphia Board of Education.

Charles Rinker, a sophomore at Franklin Learning Center, and Kenzy Ahmed, a junior at Northeast High School, were sworn in at Thursday night's School Board meeting. Jake Benny, a junior at Central High School, took the oath of office as an alternate.

The students participate in board deliberations and give the nine voting adults a student's point of view.

"I will make sure that I represent students' voices responsibly and effectively. And I will do everything in my power to make the progress that is needed to make students feel heard and seen," Rinker said after taking his oath.

"I am profoundly honored to have been elected for the position as one of the three student board representatives," said Ahmed. "I'm genuinely thankful for this role and I'm eager to be the voice for students who struggle to find a voice of their own."

"When we work together we can create instrumental change for the students of Philadelphia. Because they deserve it," Benny said.

"Our job in education is not just to educate our young people, but to help them to know how to lead," Superintendent Tony Watlington said, thanking the students for their service.

The students were chosen from 25 citywide applicants. The mayor's chief education officer, Debora Carrera, told the students that their voices were critical. "Your role is so important because you are representing your peers," she said. "You are bringing to this body what matters to young people. And we want to hear what matters."

The board reinstated student representatives after the city regained control of its schools in 2018.