Four students will share their voices in Board conversations 

Redmond, Wash. – The Lake Washington School District Board of Directors has added two additional student representatives to the Board, bringing the total number of student representatives to four each year. Student representatives were selected through an application and interview process.

Shira Avitan (Lake Washington High School, Class of 2025) will serve as a student representative for the west side of the school district. She will serve in this role until June 2025. As a representative, she is super excited to bring her unique perspective to discussions and increase her understanding behind Board decisions. Shira hopes to shine light on diverse student experiences and find ways to increase the sense of belonging in students and staff across our district.  
  

Shivani Sama (Tesla STEM High School, Class of 2024) will serve as a student representative for the east side of the school district. She will serve in this role until June 2024. Shivani is our only returning student representative. As a representative, she hopes to increase resources/awareness for mental health and increase STEM outreach throughout the district.

Ella Shi (Redmond High School, Class of 2025) will serve as a student representative for the east side of the school district. She will serve in this role until June 2025. With an unwavering commitment to enhancing the experience for all students, Ella brings a fresh perspective and an important voice to board meetings. She commits to being the bridge between the student body and the district board, ensuring that decisions reflect collective interests. Through open communication and collaboration, Ella aims to create a positive and progressive educational experience for all students within the district.

Taran Srinivasan (International Community School, Class of 2024) will serve as a student representative for the west side of the school district. He will serve in this role until June 2024. Taran is grateful for the public school education he has received from LWSD. Drawing inspiration from this experience to serve his community, Taran ran for the position to share his learning. His primary motivation is to raise awareness about embracing neurodivergence and mental health. Additionally, Taran is a passionate advocate for the needs of choice schools, ensuring that their distinctive requirements receive due attention and consideration within the board. Taran indulges in diverse culinary experiences and embraces the natural beauty as a native of the Pacific Northwest. 
 
The goal of adding student representatives to the board is to add the perspective and experiences of students as the Board considers various topics. Two students will attend each board meeting, as they are available.

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About Lake Washington: Lake Washington School District is a high-performing public school district serving Kirkland, Redmond, and Sammamish, Washington. It is the second largest district in the state of Washington, with over 30,000 students in 56 schools.