Two Richmond County high school students have been selected to serve on State School Superintendent Richard Woods’ 2025–2026 Student Advisory Council, representing their peers statewide.
Justin Jones, an 11th-grader at the Academy of Richmond County High School, and Pilar McClain, an 11th-grader at A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet School, were chosen from more than 1,200 applicants across Georgia.
(Photo courtesy of the Richmond County School System.)
(Photo courtesy of the Richmond County School System.)
The advisory council includes 79 high school students who will advise Superintendent Richard Woods on education policy, share feedback on classroom issues, and complete community service projects throughout the school year.
“Justin and Pilar represent the incredible talent, leadership, and dedication of Richmond County students,” said Dr. Malinda Cobb, superintendent of schools. “Their voices will help shape conversations about education in Georgia, and we are proud to see them representing our district at the state level.”
The Student Advisory Council meets several times during the year to discuss how state policies affect classrooms and to collaborate on service initiatives that promote leadership and civic responsibility.
Both students will also serve on Dr. Cobb’s local Student Advisory Council, connecting their state-level insights to ongoing efforts within the Richmond County School System.
Council members were selected based on essay responses about key education issues, including curriculum design, graduation requirements, teacher recruitment, and equitable access to learning opportunities, particularly for students in rural areas.
The 2025–2026 council represents students from every Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) region in Georgia, offering perspectives from rural, suburban, and urban schools statewide.
The first council meeting will take place in November at the Georgia Department of Education in Atlanta.
