Student Trustee Elections

As a candidate for Student Trustee, my vision is to make sure that the student body has someone to speak up to and to hear their thoughts. Leadership at the board level shouldn’t just be about representing the students who are already comfortable speaking up; its about building bridges to those  who feel the system isn’t designed for them. I will work with other fellow students to bring forth what  the student want, and how it will benefit the schools, and everyone around the community. I believe in collaboration, not just by working by yourself, but to include others in decisions, make everyone have a voice not just by being elected, but by trust by students who know that I will hear their thoughts and make the right decision for them. Any problems, conflicts or anything the students want to hear, I will be your voice. Not only will I listen, I will act upon my word immediately. As your trustee, it is my responsibility to advocate for you, and represent a school where everyone can thrive safely.

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As a community leader who is action oriented and centers empathy, creativity, and community, I have a proven track record of seeking and understanding marginalized voices across Hamilton. I have shown this through my role as a founding member of Purple Vox Society, a nonprofit that works to uplift, support, and empower the homeless community. Currently, my associates and I are building partnerships across Hamilton, spreading awareness and education to support the broader community.

My volunteer experience at Kemp Care House’s hospice has also shaped the way I lead. Supporting individuals and families at their most vulnerable states has taught me the importance of how to listen, lead, and act with compassion. These skills are crucial when representing a diverse student body, as is the one at HWDSB.

As a Student Trustee Candidate, I have strong communication, leadership, and advocacy skills. These skillsets will help me hear what matters most to HWDSB students and ensure their voices and perspectives guide conversation in the HWDSB Boardroom. Overall, I am committee to strengthening student representation in the boardroom so that every decision is grounded in authentic student needs and experiences.

My vision for strengthening student voice at HWDSB comes from my own experiences as a student.  I strongly feel education should always be driven by student voice.

I believe student voice should have no limits – for real, meaningful change, all students need the opportunity to be heard.  I am someone who understands that not every student feels seen, heard or comfortable with their voice in traditional spaces. Because of this my vision for strengthening student voice across HWDSB focuses on creating inclusive, accessible opportunities for students to share their perspectives in ways that work for them.  For me, this means meeting students where they are – through school visits, student forums, surveys and open conversations. As an HWDSB Student Trustee I will work collaboratively with students and staff to ensure student voice is not just heard but genuinely considered in decision-making.  By prioritizing diverse perspectives and turning student voice into meaningful action, I hope to contribute to a school system where every student feels valued and represented.

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A wise man once said, a leader should be one for all and not all for one.

Hey HWDSB, my name is Henry Zeng, and I’m going to be running your 2026-2027 Student Trustee. Again.

As your student trustee, I will ensure that every voice gets heard, and I will work closely with OSTA-AECO to make your ideas, concerns and visions a reality.

No matter who you are, if you prefer Kanye or Taylor Swift, football or basketball, employed or unemployed, I will represent every student in HWDSB at every board meeting.

If you want to see a real change in HWDSB, vote for Henry Zeng for Student Trustee!

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My name is Keya Dudhwala, and I’m a Grade 11 student at Henderson.  My vision for the student voice across HWDSB is to bridge the gap between youth and the learning environments that shape them. I believe the student voice should be influential, impactful, and reflective, with students actively participating in shaping decisions that affect their well-being, education, and opportunities. My goal is for everyone to feel heard, valued, represented in their individual journey. I will listen and understand the perspectives of fellow students in the HWDSB and bring those voices forward to make positive change. By working collaboratively with teachers, students, and parents, I aim to advocate student needs to shape a supportive and representative educational experience for all. I believe student leadership works best when it’s collaborative- not competitive: I will engage with educators to embody student voice in classroom, school, and board-wide decisions. I aim to advocate for opportunities and needs that value student input in planning and co-designing leadership initiatives with staff and students together.

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I aspire to build transparent relationships that are mutually beneficial to students and HWDSB. Transparency will be an important principle in mind as I compassionately listen to students and get their voice across to the board. I will voice mental health advocacy; ensuring that students feel welcomed at school each day and implementing measures that make sure mental help resources are widely available. Strong work ethic will be shown by informing students of legislative changes. I will represent racial minorities to the board because I recognize the need of racial minorities in leadership roles. Students will be united so that we can make amendments to the rules affecting us. As a leader I recognize the significance of equity and am keen to represent all.

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My vision for strengthening the student voice across HWDSB is not only share my own personal experience which I see my peers struggle with as well within our school community. I also want to create a space that the younger generations to feel safe and listened to in. On the daily I see my peers struggling with different issues and if I can make that change for students, I want to take that opportunity. Being in a civics classroom has impacted me greatly because getting the opportunity to make change within my school community has opened my eyes to the issue of mental health, which a lot of the student body struggle to get help with including myself. So, making it more accessible, and more effective starting with Bernie Custis and hopefully more schools across the board is my number one goal as student trustee. I want the experience of seeing other children’s perspectives on different issues their schools struggle with, and working together collaboratively to make a positive change for students. Getting the opportunity to see what different schools, different demographics and different communities are struggling with will be such a life changing and important experience.

My vision for strengthening student voice across HWDSB is to make it real, representative, and impossible to ignore. Student voice should go beyond surveys or a small group of students and reflect experiences from every school, program, and community. As Student Trustee, I would focus on access, communication, and accountability. I would expand structured ways for students to share their perspectives through school visits, town halls, and digital platforms, ensuring voices outside student council are heard. I would also prioritize clear communication back to students, what was raised, what was discussed at the board table, and what actions followed. Student voice only matters when students can see its impact. Leadership, to me, means listening first and acting with purpose. By working closely with student leaders, staff, and trustees, I would bring forward informed, practical student perspectives and help build a culture where student voice is a core part of decision making, not an afterthought.

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A student’s voice is often overlooked. Which is so crazy because we are the most important factor to consider when it comes to anything regarding the school board. Now, I can’t promise that I will magically know exactly what all of you need and can instantly make all of it a reality. In the end, I’m just one voice. My vision as student trustee however is not to project just my own voice. So many incredible students from all over the board have ideas on how to improve student life for all of us. I aspire to encourage all of those students to speak up. I hope to inspire change. This means creating opportunities and safe environments where any student can speak their mind and bring ideas to the table. As student trustee, I hope to be a vessel in which all students can have their voice heard by those that can make change happen. With more than just three students speaking up, the student voice will be stronger and more diverse at the board table. So I hope you join me in our journey to have the student voice be louder than ever before.

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Student voices matter most when they lead to real change. As Student Trustee, my goal is to ensure that student perspectives at HWDSB are not only heard but clearly reflected in decisions that affect learning, wellbeing, equity, and school life.

As a Grade 11 student active in school and community initiatives, I value representation, community, and respectful leadership. I recognize that many students especially those from multicultural backgrounds may not always feel confident sharing their ideas. I would reach these voices through student councils, cultural and equity-focused groups, school visits, open conversations, and accessible surveys, ensuring feedback is honest, inclusive, and representative.

In 2026, I would support monthly Student Senate meetings with leaders from all 13 high schools and advocate for a student-funded Unity Picnic to connect students across schools, foster relationships, and build belonging before the year begins. I would provide regular updates to council presidents and invite ongoing feedback to ensure all voices are considered.

Turning student voice into action requires collaboration. I would work closely with trustees, administrators, and student leaders while clearly communicating how student feedback informs decisions so students can see their voices create meaning.

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As an individual who has been actively involved in leadership activities around my school, I frequently demonstrate skills like responsibility, initiative, organization, and collaboration. Since Grade 9, I have taken on many roles as a leader, no matter if it’s being in student council as a grade rep or president, organizing club activities, or piano teaching at a music school. These experiences have helped me develop strong collaboration and leadership skills while learning how to represent the voices of my peers. In my opinion, a leader is someone who goes above and beyond with collaborative tasks, someone who respects and thinks from different perspectives, and someone who holds themselves accountable for their actions. My main vision for strengthening student voice across HWDSB is being transparent and clear about actions taken and how that impacts the student body. As a student myself, I find that communication regarding updates, changes, and progress in the school board is easily disregarded and often hard to find. If elected as your student trustee, I will do everything in my ability to act as a liaison between you and the boardroom, where I will represent and communicate your ideas to the best of my ability.

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