Each year our seven high schools name a student representative to alternate their time as members of the Desert Sands Unified School Board. The student board members are encouraged to fully participate in their role as they vote on measures, comment on actions before the board, and  provide counsel and suggestions to the elected board members.

This year’s team is made up of seven outstanding DSUSD students.

Amistad High School

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Kitzia Rivas

Kitzia Rivas is a senior at Amistad High School, one of Desert Sands non-traditional high schools and says, “I learned about leadership in Amistad and it feels so good to have a voice.” She enjoys a myriad of activities but finds her role in ASB (Associate Student Body) to be one of her favorites. She plans to become, as she says, “the world’s best makeup artist”. Kitzia will take her oath of office on May 5, 2020.

Horizon School

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Aaraya Vizl

Aaraya Vizl is a senior at Horizon School. She is a strong advocate of the independent study school and is an example of how to be a self-reliant student who participates in many activities. Aaraya is summa cum laude student who has served as a Youth Ambassador for the Desert Town Hall Series. She is an avid snowboarder who enjoys all sports. Aaraya is one of the first young women to participate in BSA and is currently working toward her Eagle designation. She will take office on October 1, 2019.

Indio High School

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Bishop Fermon

Bishop Fermon is a senior at Indio High School. He is active in student government, having served as class president his first three years of high school, now elected as president of ASB. He says, “being elected as ASB President was my proudest achievement”. Bishop is an active participant of the Indio High FFA (Future Farmers of America) and enjoys swimming and tennis. He is also a member of the IHS acting community. He will be sworn in on November 19, 2019.

La Quinta High School

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Israa Wadi

Israa Wadi is a senior at La Quinta High School. She is fluent in three languages, her native American English, Arabic, and Spanish. She has been active in student government throughout middle and high school, belongs to Friday Night Live (an organization that provides safe and sane weekend activities), and keeps the stats for the LQHS wrestling team. Israa plays the ukulele, enjoys music and movies, and playing volleyball. She was the first of the seven high school board members to be sworn in this year at the September 3, 2019 board meeting.

Palm Desert High School

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Emma Briedenbach

Emma Briedenbach is a senior at Palm Desert High School where she is a member of the varsity cheer team. She is active in the community as a member of the National Charity League and at the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission. This is her fourth year on PDHS ASB and she plans on using her interest and skills in leadership to become a  teacher. Her turn on the school board dais begins February 18, 2020.

Shadow Hills High School

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Luciana Lopez-Cantu

Luciana Lopez-Cantu is a senior at Shadow Hills High School. She is a fully committed SHHS Knight and is active in school government and sports. A student leader in the Renaissance program, she is also active in her church. Luciana plays volleyball for her school and notes that one of her hobbies is “coffee consumption.” She will be sworn in on March 17, 2020.

Summit High School

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Jazmine Baker

Jazmine Baker is a senior at Summit High School. She is an art lover, both studio art and music. She plays the flute, draws, and enjoys the creative process of ceramics. Jazmine is representing one DSUSD’s non-traditional schools representing several hundred students seeking an alternative to conventional secondary education. She will be sworn in at the January 14, 2020 school board meeting.

Image Sources

  • Kitzia Rivas: DSUSD
  • Aaraya Vizl: DSUSD
  • Bishop Furman: DSUSD
  • Israa Wadi: DSUSD
  • Emma Breidenbach: DSUSD
  • Jazmine Baker: DSUSD
  • Blackboard: Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay