BRATTLEBORO-Sebastian Alvarez knows firsthand that not every student learns the same way.
Now the 16-year-old Brattleboro sophomore will get to make that case to the people who set education policy for the entire state.
Alvarez, a sophomore at Brattleboro Union High School who also studies forestry at the Windham Regional Career Center (WRCC), has been appointed to a two-year term as a student member of the Vermont State Board of Education. He will help represent students on the board, which guides education policy and makes decisions affecting schools and students across the state.
“I’m really interested in seeing how decisions are made and getting to share what school is actually like from a student’s point of view,” he says.
Alvarez is the son of Linda Alvarez, a Community College of Vermont/Vermont State University marketing and business instructor at the WRCC and the 2026 Vermont Teacher of the Year, and Orlando Alvarez, a criminal justice instructor at the Career Center.
He attended his first meeting Oct. 21, about two weeks after his appointment.
“I was a little nervous, of course, but overall, I think my first meeting went really well,” Alvarez said.
During his first meeting, he spoke about the student report, graduation requirements, career and technical education, and special education.
“I enjoyed being able to share my thoughts and speak up about things that affect students,” he said.
Counting career center students fairly
Alvarez studies forestry at the career center, which students call the “TIC“ (trade and industrial center). Like other hands-on classes there, forestry can count toward a science or math credit.
At the meeting, board members discussed how taking classes at the career center is counted toward class sizes in the main high school building. Alvarez said it matters that those students are counted fairly, even when they’re learning in a different building.
“If I’m taking forestry at the TIC, I want to make sure I’m still counted appropriately in the main high school for class size purposes, especially when the class counts toward a math or science credit,” he said. “Students who take classes in different buildings should still be represented fairly.”
That concern ties into a broader goal he described when he was appointed: making sure students from career centers and from southern Vermont are heard.
“Sometimes it feels like we’re pretty far away from where a lot of decisions happen, so it’s nice to know that students from our part of the state have a voice too,” he said.
A personal case for in-person support
Special education, Alvarez said, is the issue closest to him. He has had an individualized education program, or IEP, and has worked with a series of special education teachers, speech teachers, reading teachers, and support staff over the years.
“Having to adjust to new people and different teaching styles hasn’t always been easy for me,” he said. “Sometimes it takes time to get comfortable with someone new and figure out what works best for me.”
For the past two years, he has worked with a new speech teacher he describes as “amazing,” but his speech sessions are now held online, a format he finds much harder.
“As someone who has struggled with speech, reading, and spelling, I know how important these services are,” he said. “Having to sit at a computer and talk to someone reminds me of the Covid days, which is something I really don’t enjoy.”
Speech services, he believes, benefit from face-to-face work and more direct support. He acknowledged that online services may work well for some students. “I think it’s important to consider that every student learns differently and that in-person support can make a big difference,” he said.
Raquel Moreno, Alvarez’s special education advisor at BUHS, has supported him throughout high school, encouraging his interests and helping him find opportunities to succeed.
“I deeply admire Sebastian’s hard work, his constant desire to learn and do better, and his dedication to including others in learning experiences,” Moreno said.
“Whether he is enthusiastically sharing his passion for meteorology, sports, or working to make school a better place for all learners, Sebastian always brings positive energy and a calm demeanor to everything he does.”
How the role works
The Vermont State Board of Education consists of 10 members, including two student members appointed by the governor. One is a full voting member, and the other is a junior student member, who may not vote during the first year of their term.
The board is rounded out with six non-student members appointed by the governor with Senate advice and consent, plus one member appointed by the speaker of the House and one by the Senate Committee on Committees.
The secretary of education serves as a non-voting member.
The state board generally meets once a month, typically on the third Wednesday, at locations around Vermont.
Alvarez says he applied because the position seemed like an interesting way to get involved in something new and learn about education beyond his own school.
“I thought it sounded like a really cool opportunity,” he says. “I’ve never been part of something like this before, and I wanted to give it a try. I think I’ll learn a lot from the other people on the board.”
After his first meeting, Alvarez said he is ready for what comes next.
“I want to use my voice to share my own experiences, bring attention to things other students might be going through, and help make sure students are being heard,” he said. “I know I’m still new to this role and have a lot to learn, but I’m excited to keep showing up, speaking up, and being part of these important conversations.”
Eyes on the sky
After high school, Alvarez plans to study meteorology at Vermont State University, which offers a program at its Lyndon campus.
“I’ve always been really interested in weather, and I’d love to make a career out of it,” he says.
For now, he says, he enjoys the forestry program at the career center “because I get to spend time outside and learn hands-on.”
This News item by Virginia Ray was written for The Commons.