This year, UC High welcomes a new student representative on the District Board of Education, Junior Ashley Ordaz. Known around campus for her energy, leadership, and dedication, Ordaz is stepping into the role of student board member with big goals and passion for making a change.
From the moment she joined UC High as a freshman, her teachers and administrators saw something special in her. “When we met her as a ninth grader, we noticed her leadership ability, her desire to serve, the desire to follow through, and also her commitment on campus,” said Principal Mike Paredes. Her early involvement in ASB has now brought her to the position of student board member for the district.
For Ordaz, being in this position is about more than just holding a title. “Being a student board member is being an ally to students, not a person in power. I want to bridge the gap between the district and the students so they feel like we will support them and help them accomplish their goals. The student board member position reminds adults that students’ voices matter just as much as theirs,” explained Ordaz. She uses her role as a way to ensure that decisions made by the district reflect what students truly need.
Integrity, commitment, and the ability to listen are all qualities that UC High’s leaders believe are essential in a student board trustee. Ordaz embodies all of them. “Ashley has a passion for creating change and making change. She’s also a great connector; she listens to others, builds relationships, and looks for ways to follow through on initiatives that will benefit students,” said Instructional Coordinator Audrey Mason. This shows how Ordaz believes that being a leader is about listening to others and really taking what they say into account.
When it comes to her priorities as a student board member, Ordaz is focused on both safety and opportunity. “School safety is a huge priority of mine. All students should feel safe on campus in case of an incident or emergency and I hope to prevent those incidents from ever happening in the first place. I also want to bring more attention to internships and amazing opportunities students can be a part of that connect to something of their personal interest. I love seeing students doing what they actually like to do. I hope to improve cleanliness in schools, mental health, graduation requirements, and as I start going on school site visits, I will be getting student opinions on things they would like the district to fix,” said Ordaz.
Looking ahead, Ordaz sees herself continuing to be a leader. She aspires to be a government official or even a congresswoman one day and she sees her current role as an important step in that path. “I’ve always had a deep connection to school environments. High school is the part of life when you figure out who you want to be, and I saw that by becoming a member of the board for the district, I can speak up on behalf of students and empower others to do the same so they can make high school feel a little easier. With my past and present leadership positions I realized that this is what I want to do. Whether it’s maybe being a congresswoman or government official, I’ll always push myself to my greatest potential,” said Ordaz. Her ambition shows her commitment to leadership and her belief in the power of student voices.
Ordaz’s passion for change, her ability to listen, and her drive to lead show that UC High’s newest student board member is ready to make a lasting impact, not only for today’s students but for those in the future.