The story below is an excerpt of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) Nov. 24 announcement of the 2025-26 Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council members. The full announcement is available here.
The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SSAC) is a diverse group of high school students who advise state education leaders on topics that affect public school students. The SSAC comprises 11th- and 12th-grade students from all eight of the state’s educational regions. Students typically serve two years on the council until the end of their senior year.
Their monthly meetings with the state superintendent and DPI staff members give them an opportunity to share the student perspective on a variety of issues, from school cellphone policies to higher education access.
Learn about the 2025-26 SSAC members below.
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Spencer Bluth
Senior at Research Triangle High School (Charter School)
In one sentence or phrase, what is excellent about NC public schools?
“World-class teachers.”
What topic related to education is most important to you and why?
“Expanding access to charter and technical schools in rural North Carolina. Too often, students in these areas have limited options beyond their local public school, which can restrict opportunities for hands-on learning, career preparation and innovative teaching approaches. Charter and technical schools can fill this gap by offering specialized programs that connect education with real-world skills and local workforce needs. Through my work on the SSAC, I’ve seen how thoughtful expansion of these schools can strengthen communities.”
Elliott Carter
Senior at Charles B. Aycock High School (Wayne County Public Schools)
In one sentence or phrase, what is excellent about NC public schools?
“North Carolina public schools empower students to reach their full potential!”
What topic related to education is most important to you and why?
“College and career readiness. Every year many students graduate from our school system without fully understanding their post-graduate options or how to better prepare for them. Schools should provide more opportunities for possible career exploration, internships and guidance on navigating topics such as financial aid and college applications.”
Juniper Cumming
Senior at Warren Early College High School (Warren County Schools)
In one sentence or phrase, what is excellent about NC public schools?
“Our immersive Spanish program for elementary students.”
What topic related to education is most important to you and why?
“I am incredibly invested in place-based education for public school students of all ages. I believe that forging a connection between students and their physical community is essential in developing senses of pride, opportunity and innovation. My work on the SSAC can influence educational policymakers, administrators and educators to consider the impact that place-based education could have on their students. I can also use my position on the SSAC to provide examples of place-based curricula and lesson plans, which can make the implementation of place-based education more accessible to school districts with varying resources across the state.”
Madison Dempster
Senior at Pine Forest High School (Cumberland County Schools)
In one sentence or phrase, what is excellent about NC public schools?
“North Carolina Public Schools provide opportunities for all students to excel.”
What topic related to education is most important to you and why?
“I am most concerned with the alarming increase in school violence. Experiencing the impact of violence in schools in my area has prompted my desire to advocate for students in my community. Challenges vary from physical and verbal altercations to peer disrespect which prompts an unsafe environment for students and faculty. During meetings with Superintendent Green, his administration and members of the NC Department of Public Instruction, we are able to collaborate as a Council to create and implement solutions to key issues.”
Benjamin Dombroski
Junior at Rowan County Early College (Rowan-Salisbury School System)
In one sentence or phrase, what is excellent about NC public schools?
“Our alternative learning opportunities, whether Early College or our diverse academic pathways, there is truly something for everyone.”
What topic related to education is most important to you and why?
“The way we measure student success across the state is one of the most important topics to me, and it is a subject I am deeply passionate about. I firmly believe that North Carolina is home to some of the best opportunities and students in the nation. However, I also recognize that we need a more comprehensive, honest, and accurate way to display and interpret student success. This involves moving beyond traditional metrics and developing innovative tools that can better gauge a student’s understanding and comprehension of various topics.”
Isabella Geier
Senior at Enka High School (Buncombe County Schools)
In one sentence or phrase, what is excellent about NC public schools?
“Many choices that bring various opportunities.”
What topic related to education is most important to you and why?
“Opportunities for success — like dual enrollment, honors, AP, and the new NC College Connect — within public education that are available and accessible for all students, and furthermore that those opportunities students have are supported with resources needed to prosper. SSAC allows me to share opportunities that I have had that were successful, while also bringing to light how in some instances opportunities were unsuccessful because of a way they were implemented through policy within the school.”
Jada Harrison
Senior at South Central High School (Pitt County Schools)
In one sentence or phrase, what is excellent about NC public schools?
“North Carolina public schools focus on preparing students for real-world success.”
What topic related to education is most important to you and why?
“Giving all students equal chances to access quality educational resources, regardless of background or ZIP code. Many students have the talent and ability, but because of barriers that are outside of their control, it will hold them back from achieving their goals and also affect their self-confidence and motivation — especially when those barriers exist for students who represent diverse and/or lower socioeconomic groups.
As part of the SSAC, I would like to be an advocate for ideas that eliminate this academic opportunity gap, which include, but are not limited to making dual enrollment and Advanced Placement available to more students, providing more financial support to organizations that provide tutoring and college readiness services, and ensuring that each school receives the same level of support.”
Victoria Higdon
Senior at Tri-County Early College High School (Cherokee County Schools)
In one sentence or phrase, what is excellent about NC public schools?
“North Carolina public schools stand out for their dedication to student growth, opportunity, and innovation.”
What topic related to education is most important to you and why?
“The most important topic to me is teacher pay. Teachers are the root of education; they shape every profession, from plumbers to presidents. Not supporting teachers is also not supporting students. It is no coincidence that states with higher teacher pay often have stronger educational outcomes. One of the strategic plan’s goals for North Carolina is to lead the Southeast in education, and a sound education system stems from those who are its foundation. We need to provide the support they deserve.”
Yu-Hsiang Hung
Senior at Chapel Hill High School (Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools)
In one sentence or phrase, what is excellent about NC public schools?
“They’re empowered by some of the nation’s most dedicated, nearly 25,000 National Board Certified Teachers.”
What topic related to education is most important to you and why?
“I am a firm believer that student success depends equally on their support systems as it does on classroom education. The current lack of comprehensive support to promote student well-being in and outside of school is one of the biggest challenges public education faces.
Mental health issues and chronic absenteeism continue to disproportionately impact minority students and need to be effectively dealt with in order to improve student well-being. To address mental health problems, schools must increase resource access by hiring more social service staff, as well as provide training for teachers to allow them to better identify and respond to behavioral cues. For issues like chronic absenteeism, data-driven intervention — such as individual attendance interventions — should be used to address root causes.”
Dalton Hunt
Senior at Hayesville High School (Clay County Schools)
In one sentence or phrase, what is excellent about NC public schools?
“They turn ordinary days into opportunities for discovery, collaboration, and learning the skills that prepare students for the future.”
What topic related to education is most important to you and why?
“The education issue that matters most to me is ensuring that students from rural and underrepresented communities have a voice in shaping North Carolina’s public schools. I live in Clay County, in the far western corner of the state, where schools are small, resources are limited and opportunities that are common elsewhere can feel out of reach.
Despite these challenges, our schools are full of passionate teachers, resilient students, and a strong sense of community — but our experiences are often invisible in statewide discussions. Through my work on the SSAC, I want to make sure that students like me are seen and heard. I hope to advocate for equitable access to advanced coursework, technology, mental health resources, and leadership opportunities, highlighting the unique strengths and challenges of rural education.”
Anaston Lassiter
Senior at Hertford County Early College High School (Hertford County Public Schools)
In one sentence or phrase, what is excellent about NC public schools?
“They value student voice and encourage leadership at every level.”
What topic related to education is most important to you and why?
“The lack of equal access to high quality resources, especially in rural areas like mine. Growing up in a rural community, I have seen how much students’ opportunities depend on what their school can afford to provide. Many schools do not have advanced classes, updated materials, or enough academic and emotional support. This also affects teachers. We expect teachers to give their best to students, yet they are often underpaid and asked to work with very limited resources. It is difficult for teachers to create strong outcomes when they do not receive the support they need.”
Karmen Sonia Maldonado
Senior at Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy (Wake County Schools)
In one sentence or phrase, what is excellent about NC public schools?
“Their constant drive to keep kids in school until college.”
What topic related to education is most important to you and why?
“Standardized testing is a majorly important issue to me. I believe that it is not a good representation of students’ academic skills. Oftentimes, colleges and programs will go off of test scores and grades, and that will take away opportunities from plenty of intelligent children who are simply bad test takers. I know through personal experience that I am a bad test taker, and that does not mean that I am a bad student.
Through SSAC, I can attempt to work with the other members of the council, many of which I’ve heard are passionate about this topic as well, to create a policy proposal to find an alternative to standardized testing. I believe that a more holistic view of students through achievement in class, not just in a testing room, and outside of class, should prove the students skill.”
Connor Mawhiney
Senior at Northeast Academy for Aerospace and Advanced Technologies (Charter School)
In one sentence or phrase, what is excellent about NC public schools?
“We are constantly reforming, reinventing, and pushing our schools to meet a standard of opportunities and quality education for every student.”
What topic related to education is most important to you and why?
“The most important topic to me in education is preparing students for the workforce. Having models and competencies to tie into the curriculum and demonstrate students’ true abilities to employers and colleges after high school is extremely important to me and something I have helped to implement in my high school. It allows employers and colleges to see the full picture of someone rather than just grades or numbers.
Through my work on the SSAC, I have been able to advocate for my beliefs in this advancement for education, and hopefully use some of my new resources to take initiative and make real change happen.”
Bailey Nilo
Junior at Alleghany High School (Alleghany County Schools)
In one sentence or phrase, what is excellent about NC public schools?
“The out-of-the-box thinking and initiatives of North Carolina public schools is great.”
What topic related to education is most important to you and why?
“I believe closing achievement gaps between students is important in order to give high-quality education and allow public education to open doors to life-changing opportunities for students from all backgrounds. Coming from a small, underrepresented, and under-resourced community, I see firsthand how unequal access can limit success. Through this platform, I hope to advocate for and represent those who are often unheard in large-scale conversations.”
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