Sara Hamdaoui, a junior at Crofton High School in neighboring Anne Arundel County, has been elected as the 2026-2027 student member of the Anne Arundel County Board of Education. The Chesapeake Regional Association of Student Councils announced the results April 22 on its Instagram page.
Hamdaoui defeated finalists Stella Chen of Severn Run High School and Olivia Takash of Broadneck High School. Her name will go to Gov. Wes Moore for formal appointment. If approved, she will become the 53rd student member since the position began and the second from Crofton High School. Her older sister, Hafsa Hamdaoui, served in the role during the 2024-2025 school year.
“I’m incredibly honored and grateful for the trust students have placed in me,” Hamdaoui said. “This win isn’t just about me; it’s about making sure every student feels engaged, equipped, and empowered to create change in our schools. Let the work begin!”
She will succeed current student member Brayden Morgan of Glen Burnie High School when his term ends June 30. Hamdaoui would take her seat July 1, 2026.
Hamdaoui participates in the countywide Superintendent’s Teen Advisory Council and Crofton High School’s Principal Advisory Council. She serves as president of the school’s French Honor Society, a member of Key Club and National Honor Society, and holds an executive board position in the Student Government Association. She also stays active in the Chesapeake Regional Association of Student Councils and the Maryland Association of Student Councils.
Since June, she has co-led a team for Work2BeWell, a national group focused on mental health resources. She co-chairs the communications committee for the school district’s Student Service Leadership group, which promotes volunteer and service opportunities.
Her campaign centered on engaging, equipping and empowering students. As student member, she plans to boost student voice through better communication and more input in decisions. Priorities include teaching self-advocacy skills, clarifying board actions, and advancing mental health resources, wellness education and consistent policy implementation.
Students gained a seat on the Anne Arundel County Board of Education in 1974 with Jeffrey Robinson of Andover High School in an advisory role. Full voting rights followed in 1975. The position remains unique as the only one with voting power on a local school board nationwide.
Crofton High School lies near the border with Southern Maryland, placing Hamdaoui’s leadership in a region where families often share resources, athletic competitions and community ties across county lines. Many Southern Maryland students and families interact with Anne Arundel County programs through regional events, extracurricular activities and shared Chesapeake Bay watershed concerns. Student governance models in Anne Arundel often influence leadership development in St. Mary’s, Calvert and Charles counties.
The election highlights continued emphasis on youth voice in Maryland education. Anne Arundel County Public Schools serve a large and diverse student population adjacent to Southern Maryland. Issues such as mental health support, academic equity and environmental education resonate across the broader region, where schools face similar challenges from growth, bay protection and post-pandemic recovery.
More information about the student member position and its history appears at www.aacps.org/smob.
Southern Maryland school leaders watch developments in neighboring districts closely. Collaborative efforts through groups like the Chesapeake Regional Association of Student Councils foster regional student networks that benefit tri-county youth. Hamdaoui’s focus on mental health and student advocacy aligns with priorities in St. Mary’s County schools, where wellness initiatives and expanded student input remain key goals.
The appointment process underscores the structured path for student leadership in Maryland public education. With Hamdaoui’s strong extracurricular record and family precedent, her selection reflects confidence in experienced voices to guide policy at the board level.
This milestone comes amid ongoing regional discussions about school resources, redistricting impacts and student wellness. Southern Maryland residents with ties to Anne Arundel schools through family or work will follow Hamdaoui’s term for potential insights applicable to local challenges.
