Schools

Lake Forest Teen Named School District Rep

El Toro High student Kaitlyn Hieb is sworn in as the student body representative to the SVUSD board.

She may only be one high school student, but at least once a month, El Toro High's Kaitlyn Hieb will be the voice of the thousands of high schoolers in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District at its public board meetings.

Each of the district's high schools elected a student to represent it to the school board. Among them, Hieb was selected through an interview process to represent all the schools.

She was officially sworn in as the student member of the board this week and was recently interviewed by Patch about her new role.

Find out what's happening in Lake Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Lake Forest Patch: What do you hope to contribute to the board as its student member?

Kaitlyn Hieb: Well, [board member Dennis] Walsh ... told me that it is my job to speak up as the voice for all the students. I want to live up to this expectation and participate. I want to be seen as a contributing equal and not a bump-on-the-log high school girl who is just sitting there. I just want to relay the opinion of all students so their voices can be heard through mine.

Find out what's happening in Lake Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Lake Forest Patch: Why did you apply for the position?

Hieb: I wanted to make my school proud, and I also wanted to hold a leadership position for something higher and involved on a larger scale.

Lake Forest Patch: How did you prepare for the selection process?

Hieb: I practiced for my interview for three days. ... I used my webcam to record myself answering general questions and then critique all of my nervous habits, like looking at the walls. When I got into the interview,  they asked me random, unexpected questions, like "If you were a kitchen appliance, what would it be and why?" (Answer: electric mixer because I can have fun and be crazy but remain in control and get the job done efficiently!) Some of the questions were really tough to answer so I thought I did not get the position. I was OK because I know I was up against very impressive people. I actually got frozen yogurt with my mom after, because I thought I lost, so I wanted to eat away my sorrow! ... I know I am right for this position, but it is still humbling to think they chose me.

Lake Forest Patch: What are your duties as the student body representative?

Hieb: Basically I am the liaison between all the students in SVUSD and the board of education. It is my job to represent the students in various issues that may come up on the agenda. Also, I am going to be chairman of a philanthropy project later in the year. I am planning on having a district-wide 60-second coin drive. ... During the same exact 60 seconds every school would collect as much change as possible. We recently held this type of coin drive at ET for the Japan earthquake victims, and we raised about $4,000 at just our school alone ... multiply that by 35 schools and that is a lot of money to benefit whatever philanthropic cause we choose to donate too!

Lake Forest Patch: What are your goals for the year in your new role?

Hieb: I have three main goals: 1) Represent my peers thoroughly and act as a well informed liaison. 2) Make sure our 60-second coin drive is successful. 3) Live up to the position I have been given. I want to perform as a board member and not let anybody, especially myself, down.


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