New London Student Sworn In As Student Representative to State Board of Education

Clayton Potter, a senior at the Science and Technology Magnet High School, was sworn in Monday as a student representative on the state Board of Education.

He is the first New London student to serve as a representative.

Clayton, 16, was selected from pool of approximately 65 student candidates from across the state and is one of two students to serve a year-long term on the state board.

He emerged to earn a seat on the state board after a series of interviews, first with a state Department of Education official, the two student representatives who served on the board last year and student representatives from the governor's office. He then interviewed with a member of the governor's office.

He was informed that he was chosen for the state board in last month.

As a student representative, he will not have a vote, but his input will be invaluable as state board members look to him for a student’s perspective on life as not only a high school student, but a magnet school student.

“Their agenda is much more extensive than our local board agenda. Anything that’s going on in the state that needs discussion or a vote will come to that table,” Magnet School Director Louis Allen said.

Clayton will also be integral to providing advice to state board members as they oversee the New London’s transition to an all magnet school district.

“There’s a significant interest in magnet schools and schools of choice and they’re going to come up in those sessions,” Allen said. “I can see them turning to him and asking him how he does things because he’s a magnet school student. He’ll be asked a lot of questions. Guaranteed.”

Shortly after attending his first meeting on Monday, Clayton said he found himself prepared for the meeting’s pace. He spent much of the day on Sunday reviewing supplemental materials for the meeting.

“I got to see how the structure of the meeting went. I didn’t ask questions or make comments, but there were things I knew from reading the agenda and I did develop thoughts that were brought up by other board members. I felt great that I was well prepared,” he said.