Sami Saeed, a rising Richard Montgomery High School senior, took the oath of office Tuesday as the newest Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB).
Saeed became the 46th SMOB and will serve a one-year term. During an election by middle and high school students, Saeed garnered 70% of the votes. He defeated Yoseph Zerihun, a rising senior at Springbrook High School.
Saeed was president of the Richard Montgomery Student Government Association and is a member of the SMOB Advisory County as well as the Montgomery County Commission on Youth and Children. He is on the school’s debate team.
He enjoys writing and is a contributor to his high school’s student newspaper and The MoCo Student newspaper.
During the campaign, Saeed said his top three goals were to increase the diverse representation of student voices, advocate for student mental health and heighten school safety. He called drug overdoses in schools an urgent issue.
SMOBs are voting members of the BOE, except during negative personnel issues. He won’t be paid but will receive a $5,000 college scholarship, student service learning hours and one honors level social studies credit.
He succeeds Arvin Kim, a recent Walt Whitman High School graduate.
Let's welcome our new SMOB Sami Saeed 👏👏🎊 We know you'll be a terrific advocate for all students across the district. pic.twitter.com/8AUyDoUXFV
— MCPS (@MCPS) July 11, 2023
Congratulations to Sami Saeed from Richard Montgomery HS on being sworn in today as the 46th Student Member of the Board for the @mocoboe! Thank you to Arvin Kim from my alma mater, Walt Whitman HS, for his leadership and insight as the 45th SMOB! pic.twitter.com/DHjW69ZkMy
— Councilmember Gabe Albornoz (@albornoz_gabe) July 12, 2023
Excited to be present for the swearing in of the new SMOB @SamitheSMOB and the recognition of the extraordinary service of the outgoing SMOB @arvinkim_ Grateful for their service and leadership to @mocoboe pic.twitter.com/dOIhUoN8cl
— Lorig Charkoudian (@LCharkoudian) July 11, 2023
