The Middlesex County School Board is proud to announce the appointment of its first student school board representative, Autumn Ortmann. Officially approved during the September 9 school board meeting by unanimous vote, Autumn will begin her work with the board for the October 14 meeting.
Autumn will represent the student body and its perspectives to the board. By participating in discussions and developing a firsthand awareness of the decisions and considerations of the board regarding matters of student interest, Autumn will be able to communicate with her fellow students and serve as a liaison between the students, administration and board members.
“The skills and passion she brings to her role as student board member are exceptional,” remarked school board chair Claudia Soucek. “We’re excited to work with Autumn and believe she will be a tremendous asset to our work as a governing body.”
Autumn is president of the Middlesex High School Senior Class, former Junior Class President, and is the Tidewater Regional Vice President for the Technology Students Association, a national organization of students engaged in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning and competitions. A 4-year track team member, she is completing her second year at Bridging Communities where she studies coding and advanced computer programming. She hopes to attend the University of Maryland to study computer science upon graduation from Middlesex High School.
She is especially interested in the development of the school budget priorities, expanding student access to programs, student discipline and school culture, integration of instructional technology in classrooms, and the potential renovation of Middlesex High School.
“I enjoy hearing different opinions,” Autumn explained. “I look forward to listening and ensuring our students have a voice on the school board.”
Autumn’s appointment follows the school board’s development and approval of an official policy providing for the selection of a student representative to the board annually.
