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Picture Above:  Christopher Smith, (back row; second from left) a New Albany High School freshman, is the only high school student from the Northeast Mississippi area currently serving on Hank Bounds’ Youth Advisory Board.

Seven new students selected to serve on Dr. Hank Bounds’ Youth Advisory Board joined eight veterans to meet in Jackson this month for a two-day session at the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) to discuss challenging issues facing students.   Terry Pickeral from the Education Commission of the States facilitated the students in a work session on leadership, communication and teambuilding skills.

Christopher Smith, a freshman at New Albany High School, is among the new students selected to serve on the Youth Advisory Board.  Smith is the only student from the northeast Mississippi area currently serving on the board.

“We brought in the experts, the students, to address challenges in our high schools,” State Superintendent Dr. Hank M. Bounds said.  “Who knows better what goes on in the schools, what students experience and what students would like in their schools? These students are exceptional and I have really enjoyed meeting the new members and seeing the returning students.”

The group works in a relaxed, confidential, and secure setting, where they feel free to open up and give honest, thoughtful opinions and suggestions for improving Mississippi’s high schools.

“I take their comments seriously and use the information to ensure each of them the Department will do everything in its power for them to graduate with the skills they need to be successful in college, career, and life,” Dr. Bounds continued.

“We mostly discussed school dropout and ways to prevent it,” Christopher Smith said about his two-day meeting in Jackson.  He also noted that he enjoyed the Youth Advisory Board’s trip to the State Capitol and meeting with members of the Senate.

Dr. Sheril Smith, MDE Director of Dropout Prevention gave the students some statistics and research results on dropouts in our state and across the nation.  “I look forward to seeing the positive outcomes from the Youth Advisory Board,” she said.
 
 The students were invited to the State Capitol to meet with House Education Chairman, Representative Cecil Brown, and Representative Sara Thomas, Vice-Chairman. For some students, this was their first visit to the Capitol and they were impressed with the beautiful, massive building.