University View Academy has announced four representatives – two students, two parents – for the 2024-25 Student Leadership Council and the 2024-25 Parent Advisory Committee. The councils will meet bi-monthly with UVA superintendent, Dr. Quentina Timoll, and senior leadership staff from UVA.
Seniors Natalie Paul (Chair) and Angel Pickering (Co-Chair) will chair the Student Leadership Council, while parents John Cavell (Chair) and Amanda Steele (Co-Chair) will lead the Parent Advisory Committee.
The councils serve as a pathway for both students and parents to have direct contact with UVA leadership on key topics that will help better the experience of students and their families. Members of the advisory councils are encouraged to share their experiences and offer feedback on a variety of topics.
Passion and Pride for UVA
Paul and Pickering are no strangers to UVA; Pickering has attended UVA for her entire life, and Paul is currently completing year 9. They both have a phenomenal understanding of what makes UVA such a good choice for students, and they also know what an honor it is to be selected to this council.
“It is a profound honor and immense responsibility to be selected for this role,” Paul said. “I see this position not only as an opportunity to lead but also to inspire and uplift my fellow students. I will aim to ensure that our collective experiences and aspirations are valued and addressed.”
Being a 13th-year senior at UVA, Angel has an unmatched passion for the school. She’s grown up here. She’s learned so much thanks to many teachers. She wants to ensure that UVA keeps progressing and helping more students.
“I’m passionate about upholding the standards of excellence, flexibility, and opportunities that UVA provides,” PIckering said. “Being a member of this council allows me to work directly with our school’s faculty members and uplift the voices of our student body. Being able to serve this school and our students means so much to me; it’s a genuine honor.”
Lasting Impact Through Service
Cavell and Steele are well-versed in the operations of UVA. Steele has experience at all levels of UVA with elementary, middle, and high school students of her own. Cavell has parented two UVA graduates already with a third currently a junior in high school at UVA. This will be Cavell’s second year on the council. They understand the benefits UVA offers to students.
“I knew I needed to try and join the parent council to support the teachers and administrators who are working so hard to make our school great,” Steele noted. “We, as parents, can help steer the future of UVA. To do that, we need to be constructive, helpful, and kind.”
Parents and learning coaches need to be vested in the success of their student(s), and those expectations are defined upon joining UVA. The more involved a parent becomes, the better the outcomes of each student.
“Having a background in education, I made it a point to be an active member of the school community,” Cavell said. “I engaged in this process to be in a position to serve and give back. I look forward to the continued work in the year ahead and am excited to see what the future holds for UVA.”
The parent council will offer input on topics that are important to them and their students. One topic of note is a streamlined location for all UVA information to be disseminated. Parents desire a one-stop shop for all information on classes, events, and grades that will make the consumption of information easier for families.
Building A Legacy
Both these councils aim to create a legacy that promotes UVA to the next level. The power of a united school is something that cannot be matched. These council members will work together to come up with solutions that achieve goals for the betterment of UVA.
“I recognize how valuable this opportunity is,” Paul said. “It’s a chance to give back to the community that has profoundly shaped my educational journey and personal growth.”
UVA will rely on the council members to speak up on important topics that they experience. Openness is key in these councils, and UVA encourages them to speak frankly.
As UVA continues to Change The Game, the insight and contributions from these councils will demonstrate the benefit of cohesion from students, parents, and UVA staff.