There were tears, hugs and smiles last Wednesday in a final goodbye expressed to a fixture at the school district boardroom for the last three years.
Zach Johnson, the Central Okanagan School District student council co-president, made his final appearance at a school board meeting last week with his graduation this month from 脡cole 琉璃神社 Senior Secondary.
Since September 2020, Johnson has been the voice representing the student council at a board of education and committee meetings, a participating symbol of Central Okanagan Public Schools鈥� philosophy to involve all stakeholders in the decision-making process, in particular students.
In his role with the student council, Johnson has been given an inside look at how that process unfolds and to develop working relationships with school trustees and senior staff.
鈥淭here is a lot that goes into decisions that are made behind the scenes which most people don鈥檛 see so I have appreciated being a part of that,鈥� Johnson said.
鈥淚 have seen the school district be committed to creating an inclusive environment for all students and stay strong to that. They deserve applause for that especially when parents at times have pushed back otherwise.鈥�
And his enthusiastic personality has rubbed off on others at the school administrative headquarters, as was evident at the meeting.
An emotional board of education chair Lee-Ann Tiede expressed her appreciation for Johnson鈥檚 contribution to the school district and also cited on a personal level what she has learned from his perspective on education issues.
鈥淗e is the hardest-working person in this school district,鈥� Tiede said.
Valene Johnson, Zach鈥檚 mom who was elected as a 琉璃神社 trustee last fall, said she has cherished the time she and her son have spent together at school board meetings these past eight months.
鈥淚t was definitely an enjoyable meeting and I appreciated the comments that were expressed to me. Everyone knew it was my last meeting but was still a surprise what (Lee-Ann Tiede) and others had to say,鈥� Johnson reflected on last Thursday in an interview with the Capital News.
Johnson said he tried to develop a working relationship with all trustees and administrative staff while standing firm as an advocate for students鈥� issues.
鈥淚 did not want to shy away from that,鈥� Johnson said of his advocacy role.
鈥淭o their credit, the trustees and staff were always willing to listen to what I had to say, to hear the perspective of students.
鈥淲hen I think back on it now, a lot has changed since I started in September 2020鈥nd I greatly appreciate the opportunity to make an impact here and there over that time.鈥�
He cites issues such as reviewing school catchment areas on the Westside and the Mission, and the prospect of moving Westside French Immersion students to an already overcrowded Mount Boucherie Secondary as debates where students needed to have a voice.
鈥淲hen it comes to school openings and closings, CUPE and CODA (Central Okanagan Teachers Association) always have their say in that, but students are also an essential part of those conversations.鈥�
The political bug extended beyond the school district boardroom for Johnson as he also participated in the B.C. Youth Parliament held at the B.C. Legislature in December 2022.
He says that experience gave him the opportunity to meet with other students from across the province, particularly those serving in student advocacy roles like him.
鈥淚t was a fascinating experience to learn from other people from around B.C., particularly from those who had similar roles to me and how that worked in other school districts.鈥�
Johnson鈥檚 matriculation in the Central Okanagan school system has led him from beginning in French Immersion starting at kindergarten at Belgo Elementary and on to KLO Middle and then KSS, and education will continue to play a part in his future career aspirations.
After working this summer at a Tim Hortons youth summer camp in Kananaskis, Alberta, he is enrolled to begin his post-secondary studies at Okanagan College for two years, moving on to UBC in Vancouver and then returning to UBC Okanagan to achieve his bachelor of education degree.
鈥淢y career goal is to go into education and become a teacher. I think being involved in school board meetings has opened my eyes to what public education is all about, and it is not always just what we see in the classroom as students.
鈥淎s students, we just view education from what happens in class between 9 and 3鈥ut I have learned how it is so much more than that.鈥�
Johnson says graduating from KSS is a tad bittersweet because he so loved his experience there, saying his ultimate goal would be to come back to the school down the road as a teacher.
鈥淚 love that school with my whole heart,鈥� he said.
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