Questions organized by Staff Writer Avi Cantor
This survey was created by SLA Media in order for the students of Science Leadership Academy to be informed about who their presidential candidates are and what they represent. We decided not to endorse certain candidates in order to provide the students unbiased information about the people who have the potential to change the SLA community.
NOTE: This survey had a maximum of 50 words FOR ALL ANSWERS. Any other words were deleted. These responses are in order of who responded to the survey first. These answers were not spellchecked and therefore any spelling or punctuation errors that occur in this article are a product of the candidates.
Horace Ryans
Sophomore
Give a brief overview of the most important idea on your agenda. What matters at SLA?
“Making our students voices heard. There are issues in our school that go unheard. As student we shouldn’t rely on teachers to relay our message when we are fully capable on doing it ourselves. We have voices, they deserved to be heard.”
Since student government is a new thing at SLA, how will you make your job meaningful?
“I’ll make my job as president meaningful by creating the most change while I hold my position. I will make myself available for all my students because I will be the conduit for their problems taking, amplifying their voices, and getting the job done.”
What role do you plan to play in the move to Ben Franklin?
“I actually am on the student representative team for the move to Ben Franklin so fortunately I have access to the input of my fellow students. Taking a step down and focusing locally on SLA can help me further understand what my student need to make this move better.”
Of the five core values at SLA, which one do you identify with most as a candidate and why?
“I identify most with inquiry. My personal philosophy is, how can this be better? There is always room for improvement especially in our schools. I’ll continue to ask questions until I am satisfied with the answers.”
What is your weakness as a candidate?
“My biggest weakest as candidate is me being a sophomore. People tend to overlook the fact that I have experience in leadership that goes unnoticed because I am younger than other candidates. “
Kwan Hopkins
Junior
Give a brief overview of the most important idea on your agenda. What matters at SLA?
“While all the issues I plan to address are important to me, my VP candidate and everyone at SLA, the one I’m most eager to address is the creation of an anonymous staff grading/complaint system. When staff isn’t working for students, it’s the government’s job to step in.”
Since student government is a new thing at SLA, how will you make your job meaningful?
“To make my job meaningful, I plan to bring my strong voice, persistence, and dedication to the office. This job needs someone who is willing to put themselves on the line to push their agenda. That’s what’ll make the position meaningful and that’s the candidate I intend to be.”
What role do you plan to play in the move to Ben Franklin?
“Like many SLA students, I’m saddened by the move. As president, I want to attend every meeting regarding our move and poll student opinion often. It’s both the job of the administration and the government to make this transition as smooth as possible and to make everyone comfortable.”
Of the five core values at SLA, which one do you identify with most as a candidate and why?
“Not just as a candidate, but as a person, I believe I most identify with our core value of collaboration. Everyone should be honing their ability to collaborate. As a presidential candidate, it is my responsibility to be able to work with others to get things done for our community.”
What is your weakness as a candidate?
“I’ll be honest: I speak my mind when I see a problem or see something unfair. Often, to my own detriment. It’s just really hard for me to hold my tongue when I see things like lying, hypocrisy, or something that’s downright absurd. This can get me into trouble.”
Andrew Rodebaugh
Junior
Give a brief overview of the most important idea on your agenda. What matters at SLA?
“Trying to get recycling to the school, better lunch line system, community events, a better, and more clear way to get more clubs, and bring the library back (student run… gonna do a book drive soon).”
Since student government is a new thing at SLA, how will you make your job meaningful?
“I am going to try to make a great community impact and get the advisory leaders to help me make policies to help the school. We already made some connections with some people running.”
What role do you plan to play in the move to Ben Franklin?
“As I said we will be coordinating with the home and school to see what they need for the move if it is funding or events to help the move.”
Of the five core values at SLA, which one do you identify with most as a candidate and why?
“Collaboration because I could not do this on my own without my brother Jonathan Rodebaugh and obviously my Vice President Chloe Hart who actually convinced me to run in the first place.”
What is your weakness as a candidate?
“I am not that known throughout the school and I hide away in the engineering room so it may really hurt me on my way to try to win but I will try to do a town hall to get people to know me.”
Assirem Hosni
Sophomore
Give a brief overview of the most important idea on your agenda. What matters at SLA?
“To start off there’s many things that need to get addressed and changed at SLA. Although there are some very significant ideas that should matter, these are Student Voice, student value and student appreciation.”
Since student government is a new thing at SLA, how will you make your job meaningful?
“I have got a plethora of ideas from student themselves. My partner and I have personally went and asked students what they want to see done and changed at SLA. Your ideas are what Laila and I are fighting for.”
What role do you plan to play in the move to Ben Franklin?
I am currently a sophomore, this meaning i will be the first graduating class of Ben Franklin. I am adopting ideas from SLA and also partnership with ben franklin students, and then collide ideas.
Of the five core values at SLA, which one do you identify with most as a candidate and why?
“Out of the five core values, one that i can identify with as a candidate would be collaboration for sure. I believe nothing can flow swiftly in a group of people with many different beliefs, perspectives , identities raising to achieve goal without collaboration.”
What is your weakness as a candidate?
“A weakness that I posses is that i’m a little too much of an overachiever and perfectionist.”
Tamir Harper
Senior
Give a brief overview of the most important idea on your agenda. What matters at SLA?
“The most important I think is school store hours even when parents are not able to have a representative at the store. I will work with SLA Home and School to see how we can have student government assist with opening the school store during all of X & Y band.”
Since student government is a new thing at SLA, how will you make your job meaningful?
“It’s not how will I make the job meaningful it’s how we the SLA community will make the job meaningful. I will work with the community to define the role of the President if elected. But I know I will continue to be a voice for SLA students.”
What role do you plan to play in the move to Ben Franklin?
“Currently I serve on the building committee for the co-location. I plan to continue to advocate for the needs and wants of SLA. Once we move I will continue to hopefully work with Principal Lehmann and the School District to ensure the co-location fits the needs of all students.”
Of the five core values at SLA, which one do you identify with most as a candidate and why?
“Collaboration. As a candidate I continue to want to hear what the students want. This isn’t my campaign for President this is our campaign for President because I want to listen and collaborate with you all to make your dreams come true.”
What is your weakness as a candidate?
“It’s definitely self-care. As some of you know I am an active member of not just the SLA community but an active member of the Philadelphia community. So at times I forget to go for that run because I become so invested in the work that needs to be done.”
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