from the district:
Tesoro High School junior Ryan Pallas, the founder and president of a literacy group that helps elementary students advance their reading skills, was selected to serve as Student Adviser to the Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees for the 2011-2012 school year.
Pallas, 17, will be a voice and advocate for the District’s 51,000 students during twice monthly meetings of the Board of Trustees. He succeeds Capistrano Valley High School senior Larson Ishii.
“The Board of Trustees believes it is important to seek out and consider students’ ideas, viewpoints, and reactions to the educational program,” Board President Jack R. Brick said. “Ryan is an impressive young man with the right mix of intelligence, courage, and charisma to represent our students and we look forward to his input and involvement.”
Members of Titans for Literacy, the organization founded by Pallas, read with students at Kinoshita Elementary School, coordinates events at Family Literacy Night Events and donates books to the school library.
Pallas is also a mock trial team captain, vice president of Model United Nations, varsity basketball letter winner and a member of the speech and debate club and comedy sports team. He holds a 4.5 weighted grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society and California Scholastic Federation.
“I have been a student in CUSD for twelve years, and I have received an incredible education. As the Student Adviser to the Board of Trustees, I will have the opportunity to make sure each and every student receives the same great experience I have had. I look forward to hearing from students throughout the district, and I am ready to share their opinions during Board meetings,” Pallas said. “My main priority next year is to increase student engagement. Since the Board’s main focus is the well-being of students, I want to make sure students are aware of Board activities and involved in the Board’s proceedings. I look forward to working with all of the Board members in order to ensure that we continue the great students in the District receive.”
The Student Adviser serves a one-year term and attends all meetings of the Board except for closed sessions. He may cast a preferential vote, which is recorded in the minutes but does not affect the numerical outcome of a vote, on all matters except those subject to closed session discussion.
Congratulations! Ryan sounds like a very accomplished student and a caring member of the community. I look forward to seeing his contributions at the CUSD Board of Trustees' meetings.
Posted by: Heather Paige | June 16, 2011 at 01:51 PM
This is just WRONG! Do the parents understand that the board is in the pocket of the UNION! What parent in their right mind would allow their child to be exposed to the UNION extremists on the Board? Hopefully Addonizio and Palazzo can offer a fair and balanced perspective to this student.
Posted by: RegisterReader | June 16, 2011 at 07:16 PM
Okay. I'm standing by first diagnosis of RegisterReader. She is certainly NOT a supporter of the students, parents, teachers and communities supported by CUSD. I can't write this off as satire -- or even intelligent thought. Perhaps it was the steady dose of propaganda the Register fed her.
Posted by: Reality Check | June 16, 2011 at 08:35 PM
Too much caffeine can do strange things to a person. At least, I hope its only caffeine.
Posted by: What the heck??? | June 16, 2011 at 09:59 PM
It is hard for Registerreader to accept that students are intelligent young men or women that really, really will take their job seriously and work FOR the students and their education. No outside influences - just for the kids. As using Addonizio and Pallazo as people the student should listen to that would be good I suppose - he can see just what anti student, anti education (especially public education) and outside influences look like. Thanks RR!
And all the best to Ryan! Our recent student advisors have done a great job and expect he will continue that legacy.
Posted by: Welcome Back Kotter | June 17, 2011 at 06:56 AM
Register Reader's comments are, in my experience, always intended to be satirical.
Posted by: Howard be my name | June 17, 2011 at 09:59 AM
Register Reader is hilarious. Thanks for bringing some levity to the conversation.
Posted by: socmom | June 17, 2011 at 02:19 PM
Reality Check,
If your "diagnosis" is the disease of being RIGHT in the eyes of the ONE true GOD, then I am terminally ill. Let's not forget that the first "Soviets" were essentially unions and look how those unions took down capitalism in Russia and brought about an atheistic regime that ended freedom for millions of people. That is what the CABAL in CUSD which is made up of self serving administrators and self centered UNION thugs intends to do across this great nation of ours. I am scared for this young man's soul!
Posted by: RegisterReader | June 17, 2011 at 03:49 PM
Ryan should be safe as long as your disease is not contagious, Register Reader. It is ironic that you admit self-righteousness is fatal. I pray you are right. (That was a pun in return for your satire.) Enjoy your newspaper.
Posted by: Reality Check | June 17, 2011 at 04:51 PM
I have had Ryan as a student, and he is an amazing young man. He has a mind of his own, and will add excellent ideas and perspective to the board...all of the board. Way to go, Ryan!!
Posted by: Go Ryan | June 17, 2011 at 07:19 PM