Student Trustees: Elevating Student Voices Across VCUSD

Vallejo City Unified School District (VCUSD) furthered its pathway of student inclusion in leadership this year by appointing three student trustees, one from each high school: John Finney High School, Jesse Bethel High School and Vallejo High School. These students bring energy, passion and perspective to the VCUSD Board of Education, and they share a common mission: to ensure the voices of their peers are heard.

For Zanyah DeLeon, Beroj Arbab and Sonia Valdez Jacobo, the role is about more than holding a title—it is about shaping change, advocating for student needs and ensuring that every student feels seen and supported.

Zanyah DeLeon, John Finney High School

When John Finney High School senior Zanyah DeLeon learned about the student trustee position, she saw a unique opportunity to represent her school.

“My school has never had a student trustee or student voice, and I felt they deserve a voice just like the other high schools,” DeLeon said. “I like to fight for things I believe in and like to represent, so I felt I would be a perfect candidate.”

DeLeon said her role is to speak up for John Finney and all the students across the district. “As a student trustee, I want to be the voice for not only the students at my school but our staff too, seeing as my school is sometimes looked over because we are a continuation,” she said. “I want to be a voice for all youth.”

She hopes to focus on education, mental health and special education while navigating the challenges of creating change. “There is a difference between knowing some things can’t change overnight and understanding, and at least for right now, why it is such a long and hard process to make things right for our youth,” she said.

For DeLeon, John Finney has been life-changing. “John Finney has very shortly become my home. It was my fresh start, and I was welcomed with open arms,” she said. “This school is the reason I turned my life around and is the reason why I will continue to succeed and never give up.”

Beroj Arbab, Jesse Bethel High School

For Jesse Bethel junior Beroj Arbab, leadership is about helping his peers reach their full potential.

“I love helping people, and nothing makes me happier than seeing my friends and peers succeed,” Arbab said. “When I learned about the student trustee role, I saw it as a real chance to represent Jesse Bethel and Vallejo students on a bigger stage.”

Arbab sees his trustee role as an essential connection between students and decision-makers. “My role is to be the bridge between the students and the leaders in our district on the Board of Education,” he said. “It’s my job to make sure that the voices of our students are heard when decisions are being made that impact them the most.”

He began working immediately after being selected. “At the end of the day, my role is to ensure that the students are getting what they want and that their voices are being heard,” he said. 

Beyond the board, Arbab balances an active schedule as president of the Chess Club and Military History Club, vice president of the Academic Decathlon, vice president of the Class of 2027, and a boys’ tennis team member. He also serves as a youth leader in programs across Vallejo.

“Balancing all of these roles gives me a unique perspective because I’m constantly working with a wide range of students,” he said. “These activities not only help me build leadership skills, but also give me the chance to connect with people from different backgrounds and hear what really matters to them.”

Arbab plans to study electrical engineering and eventually start his own business. But right now, his focus is on serving his classmates. “By raising issues directly with the board, I can help ensure students are given the best chance to thrive,” he said.

Sonia Valdez Jacobo, Vallejo High School

For Vallejo High junior Sonia Valdez Jacobo, the trustee role involves ensuring students are included in the conversation.

“What attracted me most to the student trustee position was the realization that many students struggle to express themselves and advocate for their needs,” she said. “I want to be the voice for those who have not yet found theirs.”

She hopes her work leaves a lasting mark, not only for her peers but also for her younger brother. “It’s important to me that my little brother grows up in a community where he feels safe, accepted and proud to belong,” she said.

Valdez Jacobo emphasized the need to engage students in decision-making regularly. “They are the future of Vallejo and will become our next doctors, politicians, educators and leaders in various fields,” she said. “Adults often make significant decisions without youth input, which highlights the need for their involvement.”

She is deeply involved at Vallejo High as a student-athlete in wrestling, softball and cheer, and participates in numerous community organizations. These experiences, she said, have taught her discipline, leadership and responsibility.

Looking to the future, Valdez Jacobo hopes to attend Stanford University to study political science and serve as a senator or congresswoman. “My mother has always encouraged me to reach for the stars, and that is precisely what I intend to do,” she said.

For now, she is grateful for the support she has received at Vallejo High. “It feels like a second home in countless ways,” she said. “I truly believe we have one of the best communities—small yet incredibly strong, rich in love and diversity.”

DeLeon, Arbab and Valdez Jacobo represent the diversity, resilience and determination of VCUSD students. Each brings a unique perspective, yet they all share the same belief: that student voice matters.

VCUSD’s commitment to elevating student trustees underscores the district’s belief that leadership should serve students and include them in shaping the decisions that affect their education and future. By welcoming student perspectives at the board table, the district ensures its policies reflect the lived experiences of those it serves, building a stronger, more inclusive community.

The message is clear: at VCUSD, student voice is valued and essential to the district's work today and its vision for tomorrow.