Rida Karim, a sophomore at Woodson High School, has been elected by the countywide Student Advisory Council (SAC) to serve a one-year term as student representative to the Fairfax County School Board, beginning July 1. Karim will participate in School Board meetings as a nonvoting member, filling the position currently held by Michelle Togbe, a senior at South County High School. She will be the 53rd student representative to the School Board.

Karim has three main focuses as student representative: ensuring equity in education, empowering students to recognize their self-worth, and making learning enjoyable for students so they can understand the significance of their education. “As a large school district with a student population of over 180,000 from various ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds, it is essential to create an inclusive and supportive environment where all students can thrive,” she said. “It is not uncommon that for students, going to school isn’t something to be excited about -- and I want to change that.”
 
Being a member of the SAC has allowed Karim to gain valuable insights and perspectives from students in different parts of the county. She plans to continue to engage with the group, actively listen to their concerns, and bring those concerns to the attention of the School Board. She also plans to implement a county-wide system on Schoology, creating separate groups for elementary, middle, and high school students, where they can provide continuous feedback.

Karim is a member of the National Honor Society and the Varsity Coed golf team; the class of 2025 Woodson Class Council Chair; president of the Cyber Security Alliance; a Student Equity Ambassador Leader; the director of outreach for Model United Nations; the committee chair for Technology/FCPSOn for the Student Advisory Council; vice president of Information Technology Girls; co-founder of Technology Youth Empowerment, and the social media manager for the Muslim Student Association. 

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For more information, contact the FCPS Office of Communication and Community Relations at 571-423-1200.
 

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