Mississippi SBE selects 10 semifinalists for student representative program

JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) has announced the selection of 10 semifinalists for the position of junior student representative for the 2025-26 academic year. The student representative program includes both a high school junior and a senior serving on the board as non-voting members, giving input on decision-making in Mississippi public schools. Crosby Parker of Gulfport High School, currently the junior representative, will transition to the senior representative role next school year.

The pool of eligible candidates for the junior representative spot consisted of 30 students. Responsibilities of the student representatives involve attending monthly SBE meetings and participating in any committees or subcommittees assigned to them, with the student role recognized as official school business, allowing them to be excused from school.

A policy was established by the SBE in 2018 to incorporate student representatives into the State Board. From the selected semifinalists, up to four finalists will emerge after the interview process, and the SBE will conduct interviews to appoint one as the rising junior representative.

The semifinalists are: Isaiah Barbour from Tupelo High School, Amy Choi and Katie Chung from Starkville High School, Price Denham and Michelle Xie from Oak Grove High School, Thad Garner from Houston High School, Avani Pacharne and Angelina Tan from Starkville High School, Abigail Ratcliffe from Gulfport High School, and Hayes Tyler from Kosciusko High School.