Fil-Am high school student sworn into LA Board of Education

Fil-Am high school student Frances Suavillo will represent students for a year on the Los Angeles Board of Education. LAUSD

LOS ANGELES – A Filipina American high school student was sworn Sept. 3 as the 2019-20 student representative to the Los Angeles Board of Education, the LA Unified School District reported.

After taking the oath, she said, “I want to make sure all voices across Los Angeles Unified will be heard. I will make sure I am the vessel of the voices from the classrooms.”

“Los Angeles Unified is so diverse, so rich in culture, I am also going to make sure that English Learners are given the best and pushed into greater opportunities,” she continued.

“Personally, I know how important it is for English Learners to get this support.”

Originally from the Philippines, Frances was 9 years old when she and her family moved to Southern California. Tagalog is her first language. She learned English at Van Deene Avenue Elementary School in Los Angeles Unified.

Frances is a senior at Carson Senior High School – with a 4.2 GPA – taking Advanced Placement and honors courses. She is the fifth representative since student participation on the board was revived in 2014.

“Frances will help give voice to the views and needs of students in all of our schools,” Superintendent Austin Beutner said. “I look forward to working with her.”

School Board Vice President Jackie Goldberg said, “I look forward to learning from Ms. Suavillo, as we take up the critical issues facing our students at our schools and in their homes and communities.”