Collinsville High School senior Emma Weil began her term as the 2016-2017 student representative on the Collinsville Board of Education. As the student member, Emma is the student voice on the school board.
She was nominated by the CHS Student Recognition Committee based on her application and answers to essay questions about why she wants to serve as the student school board member, the issues important to students and why it is important for the school board to have student input. The school board officially approved her selection in August.
Emma hopes to become an educator. She plans to become a secondary education teacher, continue her education and perhaps someday be a superintendent.
Emma says, “I would love to see behind the scenes of education. I want to learn more and see what part of education I can be involved in one day. I think meeting and interacting with the School Board is a wonderful opportunity to gain knowledge, advice and guidance on how to further my interest.”
Emma is looking forward to representing the students in Unit 10. “I want District 10 to be a school district where every child can feel empowered and confident,” she says. She plans to meet with students around the district to discover the issues that are important to them. She will share her findings with the board.
She has a great deal of respect for what educators do every day. Based on the positive influence teachers have had in her life, she feels empowered and confident to someday make a difference in other young lives.
“I have come to recognize that making a big impact and changing the world is all in your perspective. In my lifetime, if I can help one child feel good about who they are and find their strengths, then I know I will have made a big impact. You might even say that though that child I have changed the world.” she says.
Although she is not a voting member of the school board, Emma will attend regular monthly meetings and provide insight to the board regarding how students are impacted by their decisions.
Emma is the daughter of Thomas and Memorie Weil of Collinsville. She is a member of the Kahok Girls Varsity Volleyball team, Student Council, National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Kahok Ambassadors. She is president of CHS Key Club and an active volunteer at her church, St. John Evangelical United Church of Christ in Collinsville.