Driven to Serve: Alaysia Simmons and Ricardo Morales Step Up as Student Trustees

In the fall, Vallejo City Unified School District (VCUSD) high school principals called for nominations and applications for student trustees to serve alongside the VCUSD Board of Education to convey and represent the wants and needs of the student body. The student trustees who accepted the role for the 24-25 school year are Alaysia Simmons from Jesse Bethel High School and Ricardo Morales from Vallejo High School.

Simmons and Morales are passionate about representing their peers and committed to improving their school district. Though their paths to the position differ, their motivations are similar: they desire to address student concerns and amplify student voices.

Simmons' interest in becoming a student trustee was motivated by the anxieties she has observed among her classmates and the desire to help her community. "I realized that as a student trustee, I could fulfill my dreams of helping the people in my community! I also felt compelled to apply because of the constant things I heard my peers worry about," she shared. "I want to be able to help lessen their worries." 

Morales, on the other hand, was initially hesitant when his counselor nominated him. However, as he contemplated the opportunity, his focus shifted towards serving the broader school district. "I wanted to help students everywhere in the Vallejo school district to be the best they can be, to make their parents proud, and to be our future scholars," he stated. He is determined to make a lasting positive impact.

Both Simmons and Morales aim to use their positions to implement tangible positive change. Simmons aspires to introduce programs catering to specific student needs and fostering greater school engagement. Morales prioritizes enhancing school safety, particularly addressing concerns surrounding student drop-off and pick-up zones.

While they look forward to the impact they can have, they both recognize the role's challenges. Simmons anticipates the difficulty of ensuring all student voices are heard and all their needs are met. Morales understands the possibility of encountering differing opinions but remains resolute in his commitment to listening and finding common ground. "This challenge is faced everywhere," Morales admits, "but that does not mean I will not listen to others' opinions; every person has a voice."

Simmons’ and Morales’ diverse extracurricular activities further equip them for the role. Simmons' involvement in acting has honed her ability to empathize and see situations from multiple perspectives. Her participation in tennis and track has instilled discipline and resilience. Morales' leadership role in Key Club, a community service organization, showcases his collaborative spirit and commitment to serving and leading others. 

Both Simmons and Morales see their roles as stepping stones towards their future goals. Simmons, who hopes to become a neurosurgeon or psychologist, believes the board experience will provide her with the skills to navigate complex challenges. Morales, determined to become a registered nurse, possibly in the ER, views his trustee position as a valuable addition to his college applications and a testament to his responsibility. He sees the position as a stepping stone to fulfilling his ultimate goal of saving lives.

United by a common goal of improving their school community, Simmons and Morales look forward to representing their classmates as student trustees to the Board of Education. They will bring unique perspectives, commitment, and a genuine desire to impact their schools and amplify the students’ voices, wants, and needs.