James Obasiolu

HCPSS SMOB Election - 2024

Welcome to the official campaign page for James Obasiolu’s candidacy to be your HCPSS Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) for the 2024-2025 school year—James4SMOB! Wherever you’re joining from, I hope you’re doing well! As you explore this site and its contents, remember that this is a safe space where you can voice your perspectives anytime. :)

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. My email address is james4smob@gmail.com, or you can contact me on other platforms like Canvas Inbox! I look forward to learning more about you and your inspiring experiences and hopefully being your SMOB and champion on the Board of Education next year (it'd be an honor). Thank you for visiting! See you on the campaign trail and on election day on Wednesday, May 1, 2024!

You can learn more about me on the "About me" Page after you've finished reading below 🤗. Thank you so much!!

James campaign photo

School Climate & Atmosphere

As a student deeply involved in our HCPSS community, I've witnessed firsthand the challenges students face regarding school environment and climate. From low enthusiasm to feelings of disconnection, our HCPSS schools aren't the energizing and exciting places that students need them to be.

To address this, I'll advocate for inclusive activities and events that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. By collaborating with the Board, students, and school leaders, I aim to establish a diverse student-led committee to organize culturally rich events, workshops, and festivals throughout the year. These initiatives will foster a sense of belonging and unity among students from all backgrounds. Additionally, I'll push for curriculum updates that reflect our diverse student population and help create inclusive learning environments where every student feels valued and represented.

If you'd like to read more in-depth about my plans for improving school atmosphere in HCPSS, please read my full School Climate & Atmosphere Pillar.

Student Safety & Mental Wellness

Student safety is about more than physical security—it's also about emotional well-being and mental health. In our HCPSS schools, many students face stressors that affect their mental wellness and sense of safety. From academic pressures with large courseloads to social anxieties in friend groups to actual safety threats, improving mental health resources is crucial to supporting our students and ensuring we can mitigate these issues.

As SMOB, I'll address gaps in mental health support by advocating for more accessible resources and increasing awareness of the many perspectives and opinions that students like you experience in school. I'll push for once-a-semester/quarterly check-ins between counselors and students to ensure every student can feel more comfortable approaching people who can help and access professional support when needed.

Additionally, integrating mental health education into our curriculum, regardless of course, will equip students with coping skills and strategies from an early age. Prioritizing mental wellness not only improves individual well-being but also fosters a stable, more inclusive school environment where students feel supported, valued, and, most of all, safe—whether physically, mentally, or psychologically.

If you'd like to read more in-depth about my plans for improving student wellness in HCPSS, please read my full Student Safety & Wellness Pillar.

Better Communication

Recognizing the need for improved communication and engagement within HCPSS, I aim to bridge the gap between students, families, and decision-makers on the Board of Education. Oftentimes, students don't have the time or resources to comb through the extensive and long policies that govern our school system, and there currently exists no widely available way to understand each policy in layman's terms. Through accessible, multicultural short-form videos that tell about policies up for review, I'll ensure that every student understands how specific policies and decisions impact their education. These resources will be shared widely across platforms and empower students of all backgrounds to participate in crucial discussions.

Additionally, I'll make my best effort to frequently visit every HCPSS middle and high school to gain student perspectives and hold county-wide SMOB Town Halls, which will provide safe spaces for students to voice concerns; a big part of this is time management, which I will skillfully do by using apps like Google Calendar, Notion, and other software so I can stay on top of meetings and events. I want to speak with students who don't know they have a voice in shaping their education or who the SMOB is and gather their perspectives because when we seek to include everyone in this conversation, we will be most effective at creating change. I'll also work to implement a monthly Student-to-SMOB survey administered through Canvas during various middle and high schools' flex time, where students spontaneously learn about issues through the aforementioned short-form videos while voicing their concerns in a widely utilized and uniform way.

As SMOB, I'll encourage meaningful student engagement and ensure that all voices are heard by promoting civics, testimony, and enrichment opportunities where students can provide their thoughts, which I’ll then gather to make an informed vote.

If you'd like to read more in-depth about my plans for improving student-to-board communication in HCPSS, read my full Communication Pillar.

Involving More STudents

Within HCPSS, there is an urgent need for greater student involvement in decision-making. I aim to bridge the gap between policy impact and student representation by addressing the issue at its core: the need for more student perspectives and opinions in decision-making processes. As SMOB, I'll advocate for shorter policy cycles and increased student representation on policy committees to ensure student voices are heard in shaping policies that directly affect them. Even if you don't know the policy at its core, you'll have a chance to learn about it and represent your fellow students in the processes that impact us every single day.

Additionally, I'll work to foster greater student participation in extracurricular activities like clubs and sports, collaborating with SGAs to create more inclusive opportunities for student engagement. By involving students in policy discussions, we can cultivate a sense of ownership and responsibility, preparing students for future advocacy and leadership roles. Also, we'll help students explore their interests and seek to make HCPSS a more enjoyable place and experience for students to attend school!

If you'd like to read more in-depth about my plans for improving student involvement across HCPSS, read my full Student Involvement Pillar.

You can learn more about me on the "About me" Page Next!

________________________

Pages:

Home Page

About Me

My Platform

Why is James Running for SMOB?