For the 2025–2026 school year, the Capistrano Unified School District has selected Addison Hansen, a senior at San Juan Hills High School, to serve as this year’s student board member. In this position, Addison will attend board meetings, share input on policies, and represent the voices of thousands of students across the district. While the role does not include an official vote, the student board member’s perspective is always recorded and strongly considered by the trustees.
The district appoints a new student board member each year to ensure that student voices are included in important decisions. It’s a role designed to create a direct link between the student body and district leadership, bridging the gap between administrators and the students whose lives are shaped by their policies. Addison put it simply: “I believe the most important part of my role is accurately representing students’ concerns and interests, particularly regarding the education they receive in this district.”
The position itself holds significant weight. Trustees make decisions on everything from curriculum and graduation requirements to mental health resources and extracurricular programs. Having a student at the table ensures that the board is not only hearing from adults but also from the very people those choices impact most.
Addison explained why she wanted to step into that responsibility: “I saw a lot of contention in board meetings that I attended and felt that the focus of meetings seemed to be on polarizing political topics rather than promoting student achievement and academic excellence. I wanted to apply in hopes that I could obtain the role and work to bring the focus back to ensuring CUSD students have the best possible education that sets them up for success upon graduation.”
Although the position may feel new to some students, it has existed in CUSD for several years, what started as a way to incorporate student feedback has grown into a respected leadership role. Addison said she was thrilled when she learned she had been selected: “I was really excited because I truly admire so many of the trustees on the school board and couldn’t wait to work with and learn from them and receive their input on my ideas. But, I was most excited about being able to represent the CUSD student body and begin plans to support CUSD students in my capacity.”
So what does being a student board member actually involve? Addison’s schedule is busy, though it changes from month to month. She attends regular school board meetings, meets with Superintendent Dr. Brown to discuss agendas, and gathers feedback from ASB presidents across the district.
Every other month, Addison also joins the Superintendent Student Advisory Council. On top of that, she participates in events like the Student Board Member OC Summit, where she recently met with other student representatives from around the county. “There, I learned how they are working in their roles and brainstormed new ways we can expand our impact,” she shared.
To make sure she represents students effectively, Addison has several strategies: “I plan on conducting surveys for high school and middle schools and talking with every high school’s ASB president to find out what topics are important to students at their school. Hopefully, I also get a chance to visit most if not all of our high schools to see and hear what is going on all over our district!”
Her priorities for this year are already clear. “One of my main goals is to promote student self-advocacy by identifying gaps in communication about available resources, such as tutoring and advice or counseling,” Addison said. “Then, I want to work on improving and promoting these resources so that students feel empowered to take responsibility for their own education.” She also mentioned that the issues most commonly raised by students so far include the new standards-based grading system and the tradition of white robes at graduation—two topics she plans to address during her term.
For Addison, the impact of the role is twofold: it benefits the students she represents, but it also provides her with valuable leadership experience. “I hope to learn about how decisions in our district are made and be able to learn a lot from the leadership of our Board of Trustees,” she said. “I think that this role will help me learn how to connect with people and initiate change, which I know will be valuable in any field I go into in the future.”
As she begins her term, Addison encourages students to get involved and reach out. “I would say email me with any questions you have and come to board meetings and see! I talk at the beginning so you don’t have to stay for the whole time,” she said.
Her message is clear: student voices matter, and through her role, they have a direct seat at the table.
