Megan Sawant

Megan Sawant, a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), is the 54th student representative to the School Board.

Ms. Sawant 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, 2024. Ms. Sawant will participate in School Board meetings as a nonvoting member, filling the position currently held by Rida Karim, a senior at Woodson High School.

Ms. 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,” Ms. 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.

Ms. Sawant is the Virginia Technology Student Association State Vice President; an NIH intern; former NASA Genelab intern; Girl Scout ambassador on the Board of Directors; an officer for the Biotechnology Club; Civil Air Patrol captain; TJ Techstravaganza Coordinator; 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.