The new school year brings many beginnings, and for senior Ella Goodman, one of those will be the start of her Student Government Presidency term. `
After spending her entire Upper School career participating in Student Government as a Senate Representative, Secretary, and Senate Head, the Presidency was a natural next step for Goodman.
“I remember watching Samantha Graines as President on stage freshman year and just thinking that is where I want to be senior year,” Goodman said, “I’ve worked my way up the ladder and made that happen.”
This year, Goodman wants to focus on improving many different aspects of Student Government to ensure that it is a space for everyone to express themselves.
“Inclusivity is a huge part of Student Government,” Goodman said, “Nobody should be afraid to come up to the mics.”
Goodman plans on implementing a checks and balances system so that no student feels like they’re going to be silenced by a Cabinet member or a faculty advisor, however, the details of that system are yet to be worked out. To further inclusivity in Student Government more, Goodman wants to hold more community conversations with the DEIB Seminar class to understand what groups feel underrepresented in Student Government spaces like Plenary, Senate, and Cabinet.
Beyond inclusivity, Goodman wants to focus on tackling logistical problems in the Upper School as well. One longstanding problem students have tried to solve is the overlapping of club, Committee, or affinity group meeting times. Goodman plans on working with the Computer Technology Committee to create a Student Involvement portal page to ensure club and Committee heads don’t plan meetings concurrently with each other.
“It’ll essentially be an Upper School life calendar,” Goodman said, “Students should plan on seeing that within the first few weeks of school.”
The last main change Goodman plans to implement will not come until January, as she plans to hold a second Committee Fest for students who may want to switch their Committee for the second semester. Though it has never been done before, Goodman hopes that it will revitalize Student Government when some students may be disengaged, and it will promote more Committee involvement because students will be pursuing what they’re passionate about—not just a random assignment.
“I always hear people talking about how they hate their Committee or that their Committee does nothing, so hopefully this will change that,” Goodman said.
All of Goodman’s new ideas have come from her years of experience in Student Government. Her first Cabinet role was during her sophomore year when she served as the Secretary. Then, in her junior year, Goodman served as one of four Senate Heads creating changes such as bringing the finals week back and working to create a more practical schedule with Head of Upper School Cory Zeller.
“Ella was one of the easiest people to work with last year,” senior and one of Goodman’s co-Senate Heads Nia Nashashibi said. “I always knew I could count on her, so I have full faith in her to lead our student body this year.”
Goodman plans to stay well connected with the student body throughout the year by attending Senate meetings, having an open Google Form at all times for feedback, and utilizing feedback from the 360 Review Committee.
“I’ve talked to Ella about how she’s going to utilize our feedback and she really has a large emphasis on it,” senior and 360 Review Head Penny Wood said. “I’m excited to see how she implements student feedback because in the past we haven’t really seen it in action.”
Goodman hopes to inspire students to create change in the Parker community. She wants Student Government to not just be another block in the schedule, but a place for the entire Upper School to come together as one entity of changemaking.
“If you really take a look around you can see all of the tangible changes we have made and are in the process of making,” Goodman said, “To those who think Student Government is pointless, you’re clearly not paying attention and seeing all the amazing work we have done.”
