Megan Sawant, a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), has been elected by the countywide Student Advisory Council (SAC) to serve a one-year term as student representative to the Fairfax County School Board, beginning July 1. Sawant will participate in School Board meetings as a nonvoting member, filling the position currently held by Rida Karim, a junior at Woodson High School. She will be the 54th student representative to the School Board.

Sawant has three main focuses as student representative: increasing student engagement with the School Board, identifying and tackling academic recovery, and addressing student alcohol and drug abuse.

“Not only am I passionate about representing the voices of FCPS students, I'm also determined to ensure that the meaningful discussions and decisions at School Board meetings are shared with the students they affect. I want to create two-way communication so that students feel genuinely involved in the implementation of their ideas and policies that shape their experiences. I also want to spotlight resources available to them, such as mental health services, tutoring, and college and career planning,” Sawant said.

She added, “Alcohol and drug abuse has emerged as a serious topic, particularly over the last couple of years. While mandatory lessons are currently in place, I see the need to improve these lessons based on student feedback, engagement, and responsiveness in community events. 

Sawant is the Technology Student Association state reporter; an officer for the Biotechnology Club; former intern at NASA Genelab; Girl Scout ambassador; Civil Air Patrol captain; TJ Techstravaganza Title 1 supervisor; former co-organizer of George Mason University Space Day; former intern on the Walter Reed Naval Base; member of the Spanish Honor Society, and student member of the American Society for Space and Gravitational Research; among others. 

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For more information, contact the FCPS Office of Communications at 571-423-1200.