Donnie Pulliam of Liberty County High and Sanquez Fair Long of Long County High School recently were named to the 2012-13 student advisory council by State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge. Fifty students from around Georgia were chosen. As members of the council, these students will meet two times throughout the school year to advise Barge on how state policies impact the classroom. The council also will discuss other education-related issues and will serve as the superintendent’s ambassadors in their schools.

“The student advisory council allows me to hear directly from students in our schools and discuss major initiatives with them,” Barge said. “The council also gives students the opportunity to share with me their ideas and concerns, which we can use to shape future state policies.”

More than 750 students from 121 districts applied to be members of the council and answered essay questions. Students were chosen based on the strength of their essay answers.

“It was very difficult to choose the members of the student advisory council because there were so many great applications,” Barge said. “I’m excited about working with this group of students because I know they will be prepared to share their ideas to make education work for all students.”

The council’s first meeting is Nov. 28 at the state department of education offices in Atlanta.