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LHS Senior Appointed as Student Member of the Board of Education
Image of Student Board Member Emma Turley taking the oath of office for the Board of Education

Lansingburgh High School Class of 2026 Senior Emma Turley has been appointed as ex officio Student Member of the Lansingburgh Board of Education for the 2025-26 School Year. Emma took her oath of office during the Board of Education's regularly scheduled meeting on September 22, 2025. 

Emma will attend Board meetings through the rest of the year and serve as a representative for her peers. While Emma is a non-voting Board member, she will be an active participant in meeting discussions and ensure Board decisions are informed by our students' needs, concerns and opinions.

We checked in with Emma for a brief Q&A below to learn more.

Tell us a bit about this role and what's expected of you as the Student Board Member. How did this opportunity come about?

My role is reporting to the Board about what's happening in and around Lansingburgh High School, while also being a voice on the Board for the students. After meetings, I will then report back to the LHS Student Government about Board discussion items.

I'm this year's LHS Student Government President, so Dr. Abitabile (Superintendent of Schools), Mr. Van Dervoort (LHS Principal) and Mrs. Baldassari (Senior Class Advisor) asked if I'd also be interested in representing students on the Board as well.

In addition to this new role and being the Student Government President, what other extracurricular activities are you involved?

I've been a member of the Lansingburgh Varsity Cross Country and Varsity Track & Field Teams for the past 5 years. I've also been a member of the LHS Take A Look At Teaching club (TALAT) for the past 3 years, which has given me many opportunities to volunteer at Turnpike Elementary, Rensselaer Park Elementary and even at Knickerbacker Middle School. Last year, I was the Junior Class President, and this year, I'm the 2026 Senior Class President.

What's something you're hoping to accomplish this year in this new role?

I'm hoping to establish new practices for expanding student voices in Board activities that will make an impact not only in Lansingburgh High School but the district as a whole.