Kamarie Brown, a senior at Crenshaw High School STEMM Magnet, has been selected by her peers as the student representative on the Board of Education. She will be sworn in for a one-year term at the board meeting on Oct. 6.
Kamarie is enrolled in Advanced Placement and Honors classes at Crenshaw, and is at the top of her class with a 4.4 grade-point average. She hopes to attend Howard University, a historically Black college in Washington, D.C., and aspires to a career in law, like civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump or CNN commentator Angela Rye. She also is very active in a community youth organization, which gives her insight into the issues facing today’s youth.
“I want to be the voice for all students,” said Kamarie, 17, who was chosen by seniors from high schools across Los Angeles Unified to engage with students and present their thoughts and opinions on issues and agenda items at Board of Education meetings.
“Congratulations and welcome Student Board Member Kamarie Brown,” Superintendent Austin Beutner said. “I look forward to working with you this year.”
“To the new student board member, Kamarie Brown from Crenshaw High School, we welcome you, we are proud of you,” Board President Dr. Richard Vladovic said. “We look forward to hearing your voice in the horseshoe.”
“Congratulations to Crenshaw High’s own Kamarie Brown,” Board Member Dr. George J. McKenna III said. “You have accepted the responsibility of representing the voice of your peers on the Board. We are proud of you and look forward to welcoming you to the horseshoe.”
| “I am fascinated by the courage of our youth today to be advocates for their education and that of their peers,” Board Member Mónica García said. “Despite the challenging times of our world today, our youth continue to fight for the changes they need at Los Angeles Unified. I welcome Ms. Kamarie Brown to the School Board and look forward to the impact she will have on all of us. I lift her spirit and energy as a reminder of the lives |
that we are serving and as a reflection of our own duty to prepare every student at Los Angeles Unified to graduate and have a successful life.”
“As a passionate believer in student voice and advocacy, I know the importance of encouraging students to be civically engaged in the decision-making process and policy issues affecting our local communities, state and nation,” Board Member Scott M. Schmerelson said. “The value of listening to and learning from our youth is reinforced for me every time I meet with my Board District 3 Student Advisory Council. I congratulate Kamarie Brown and look forward to working with her on the Board of Education.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Kamarie Brown as our first virtually elected Student Board Member,” Board Member Nick Melvoin said. “We need to include a student voice in the conversations that affect her own school community, and I look forward to hearing her ideas and insight as we help our families navigate this unprecedented year.”
“I’m thrilled that we have our new Student Board Member selected, and I’m overjoyed that so many students applied,” Board Member Jackie Goldberg said. “I greatly value the perspectives and experiences that a high school student brings to the work of the school board. I very much look forward to working with Student Board Member Kamarie Brown.”
“Congratulations to Board Member Brown on her election,” Board Member Kelly Gonez said. “She will serve as a critical student voice on the Board as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. I am excited to work with her on behalf of the students and families of Los Angeles Unified.”
