Paducah Tilghman High School rising sophomore Ian Swenson has been selected to be part of the 2023-2024 Kentucky Department of Education Commissioner’s Student Advisory Council. He joins a group of student leaders from across Kentucky who will provide valuable insight and voice to Kentucky Education Commissioner Jason E. Glass and the KDE Leadership Team about how decisions made at the state level are affecting students and schools throughout Kentucky.
The Kentucky Education Commissioner created the Student Advisory Council to gain valuable feedback from Kentucky students. Student members provide input on critical issues and work with KDE staff to develop ideas to improve and transform education. Past council reports and recommendations have focused on issues related to school safety, mental health and efforts to strengthen diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in Kentucky public schools.
Membership on the Student Advisory Council is designed for Kentucky public school students in grades 10-12 and students must apply to be considered. The council is comprised of at least two student members from each of the seven Kentucky Board of Education districts, at-large student members, one student each from the Kentucky School for the Blind and the Kentucky School for the Deaf, and members enrolled in a career and technical education pathway.
The Student Advisory Council will meet with the commissioner and Kentucky Department of Education staff, both in person and virtually, throughout the next academic school year.
Ian is a member of Tilghman’s Academic Team, Archery Team, Beta Club, Interact Club, and Pep Club, and is a Tilghman Student Ambassador. He plays French Horn, Upright Bass, and Electric Bass, and is a member of Tilghman’s Marching, Pep, and Jazz Bands, as well as the Tilghman String Orchestra. He has volunteered for Clark Elementary School’s Academic Team matches and at Market House Theatre as a cast member. His most recent Market House Theatre role was this past fall in “School of Rock,” where he played bass in the onstage No Vacancy band.
He is the son of Barry and Michele Swenson.