At the Oct. 19 Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) Board of Directors Meeting, Rogers High School (RHS) Junior Rejae’ Williams was sworn in as a PSESD Board Student Representative for Pierce County schools.

PSESD is one of nine regional educational agencies serving school districts, tribal compact schools, and state-approved charter and private schools in Washington. Each year, they select two students from the Puget Sound—one from Pierce County and one from King County, to serve a two-year term as a student representative. As a student representative to the PSESD board, Williams will help bring student voice and perspective to the discussions and decisions made by the board.

When Williams first learned about the opportunity from her avid teacher, she instantly thought it would be a great learning opportunity. 

"My mom always told me to be a leader, not a follower," Williams said. Throughout my high school experience so far, I’ve been able to be a part of many opportunities to keep learning and improving my leadership skills."


PSESD Superintendent, John Welch (left), swearing in Rejae Williams (right) as a PSESD Student Representative at the Oct. 19 PSESD Board of Directors Meeting (Courtesy: Puget Sound ESD).  

As a PSESD Student Representative, she hopes to focus on issues that can help schools improve, students achieve and gain valuable leadership experience that will serve her well into the future. 

"I look forward to working with the other student board members and being apart of the decisions being made," Williams said. "I hope that those in position won’t be afraid to step away from traditional teaching and continuing to acknowledge that everyone leans differently."

In addition to taking college courses as a running start student, Williams is part of the RHS Black Student Union and involved in basketball and track and field.