Munachi Obinali, a junior at La Plata High School, has been elected Student Member of the Charles County Board of Education for the 2026–2027 school year.
Obinali received 55% of the 3,521 votes cast in the election held April 7 through May 6. Her opponent, Maurice J. McDonough High School sophomore Riley Mullikin, received 44%. Students in grades 6 through 12 across Charles County Public Schools were eligible to vote.
Obinali will be sworn into the one-year position next month. The Student Member of the Board (SMOB) serves as the voice of more than 28,000 students in Charles County Public Schools and has full voting rights on the seven-member Board of Education.
The annual election is coordinated by the Charles County Association of Student Councils. Details about the election process, including eligibility and voting procedures, are available on the association’s website.
Charles County Public Schools serves students across a diverse region that includes growing suburban areas near Waldorf and more rural communities in the southern part of the county. The SMOB position gives students a direct role in decisions affecting curriculum, school safety, budget priorities and programs that prepare them for college and careers.
Obinali’s election continues a tradition of student leadership in Charles County. The SMOB participates in regular board meetings, works with school administrators and represents student perspectives on issues such as mental health resources, technology in the classroom and extracurricular opportunities.
The Charles County Board of Education oversees 40 schools and emphasizes student voice through programs like student councils and leadership initiatives. The SMOB helps bridge the gap between students and district leadership, ensuring policies reflect the needs of the county’s young people.
For more information on the Student Member of the Board position and the election process, visit the Charles County Association of Student Councils website.
