Superintendent Woods' Student Advisory Council is made up of 64 Georgia students who attend middle and high schools in every RESA region of the state. The council meets with Superintendent Woods to provide input on the impact of state policies in the classroom. It's a chance for students to learn about the civic process and, like the teacher and parent advisory councils, it helps the Superintendent gain insight from those directly affected by education policy.

We'll be introducing members of the council here, a few at a time, and sharing some of their ideas for public education. This time, meet Mason, Becca, and CJ. 

Mason Lawing

School: Thomas County Central High (Thomas County Schools)

Grade: 11th

Involvement: Two-year class president, two-year FBLA vice president, National Honor Society, Interact, Andrew College Academic Competition Team, math team, football, wrestling, track & field

Mason's ideas on flexible scheduling: 

"An average high school course lasts either a full semester or two full semesters. For a traditional schedule, classes must be at least 150 seat hours in duration and in a block schedule, classes must be at least 135 seat hours in duration. At the end of these hours, a student is given some sort of exam to test their mastery of what they have learned. However, some students do not require this lengthy amount of time in order to show mastery of the same material. My proposed solution to this problem is to offer exemption exams to students with 3.5 weighted GPAs or higher." 

Becca Velasquez

School: Effingham County High (Effingham County Schools)

Grade: 9th

Involvement: FBLA, student council, 4-H leadership team, JV volleyball, member at Mizpah United Methodist Church

Becca's ideas on college preparation: 

"My educational experience would be tremendously improved if, at the junior and senior levels, a College 101 class was provided. Many high school students are not prepared for what college throws at them. In the College 101 class, students would learn critical thinking; how to study and take notes; and time management. These are all key points that students need to know to succeed." 

C.J. Pearson

School: Columbia Middle (Columbia County School System​)

Grade: 7th

Involvement: Student body president, Boy Scout, Chairman of the Columbia Middle School Teen Republicans, Executive Director of Young Georgians in Government, audio team for Faith Outreach Church, volunteer for several local and national political campaigns

CJ's ideas on technology integration: 

"I strongly believe that to prepare young people to be 21st-century learners, we must expose them to the use of technology in the classroom. Secondly, I would push for easier understood educational standards. Time and time again, parents, students, and even teachers will say they can't clearly understand the Georgia educational standards. If that's truly the case statewide, that could be detrimental to the quality of education being received. I would bring fresh new ideas to the table that would push each and every school here in the state of Georgia to push to be the very best they can be."