The Chesapeake Regional Association of Student Councils (CRASC) is the body that annually elects a new student member for the Board of Education. For the 2024-25 school year, Hafsa Hamdaoui is serving as the AACPS representative. Before her senior year, Hafsa was sworn in last July as the 51st student member of the board. Before putting down roots in Crofton, she lived and learned in England, Morocco, the UAE, and Oklahoma. Her educational experiences abroad have proven invaluable in shaping her multicultural outlook and approach.
As a freshman at CrHS, Hafsa noticed the disparities and differences between schools in AACPS almost immediately. Her disappointment fueled her forward to run for a seat on the board. Hafsa’s determination did not falter even throughout the rigorous application process. Once she was nominated, she had to submit several essays and letters of recommendation along with a resume before her panel interview. She was soon one of only three candidates racing towards the finish line.
At the time, the spring semester of Hafsa’s junior year was in full swing. She was taking six AP classes and was fasting during Ramadan. “The campaign process was probably the worst time of my life, to be quite honest,” Hafsa recalled in a recent interview. “It was a million and a half things just piled up on each other.”
Once the stressful process had concluded, Hafsa’s first day at the Board involved hours of meetings and greetings. Despite her nervousness going into it, she found that she had stepped into a welcoming and respectful environment. According to Hafsa, “It wasn’t even a conversation in the first meeting. It was just, ‘This is Hafsa. Hafsa is your equal.’ And that was that.”
The biggest initial challenge Hafsa faced was the sheer amount of information to understand. This includes state law, local law, policies, and regulations. Getting oriented in the first few weeks and figuring out the lay of the land was overwhelming, but Hafsa managed to navigate the new environment gracefully, learning as she went along. She describes it as more of a learning experience than anything; “You can’t get that kind of education anywhere else”.
As of February, halfway through her term, Hafsa’s focus is on improving student mental health resources like school psychologists and social workers. She is a staunch advocate of student wellness and is ensuring initiative through her hand on the budget. This also includes pushing for increased school security and more religious holidays in the county calendar.
Hafsa is the only student member on the board in the country who has full voting rights within the board. Her position is remarkably different. Consequently, it is very busy. When asked if her role was more like a full-time job than a representative, Hafsa agreed, “Absolutely. I thought I understood what I was getting into. I did not.” Although the time she spends at the board fluctuates throughout any given month, there are times when she finds herself going through 30-hour weeks on top of school, extracurriculars, and other clubs. There are half a dozen things that she became an honorary member of just by merit of her position, and while Hafsa agrees that it is rewarding, she acknowledges that it is not easy.
It’s hard, but she’s not alone. She works closely with the members of the board and thinks of them as her peers and colleagues. Hafsa feels that her voice is genuinely heard at the board and she has the power to make a difference, whether it’s a flashy initiative or a single vote behind closed doors. Dana Schallheim, the District 5 representative on the AACPS Board of Education has remarked that “From her very first meeting, it was evident that Hafsa is incredibly intelligent and thoughtful. She deeply values student perspectives, prioritizing wellness while advocating for enhancements that will elevate students’ voices while improving outcomes”.
This corresponds to Hafsa’s goal; the lasting effect she hopes to leave on the county is to simply leave it a better, more equitable place than when she found it. Every day, she works toward leaving each school in the county equally resourced and opportune. “If I leave this school knowing that at least one person has felt a little more like they belong, I will be content,” Hafsa concluded. She has demonstrated that the smaller, invisible votes and decisions are what truly make a difference in the community, and that is all she is aiming to do.
To the next student member on the board, Hafsa wants to stress that you should “…do it for the right reason. Make sure you’re doing it because you have a genuine love for this county and its students. Temper your expectations and be flexible. You are going to grow immeasurably in this role.”
Hafsa’s unrelenting loyalty to the county and the students has made her one of the most dedicated and driven student representatives in recent years. She has made personal and academic sacrifices to serve the students of Anne Arundel County, and this passion has carried over into her work. The impression that Hafsa has left on every school this year will be felt for years to come.
