Marianna Smith

My name is Marianna Smith, and I'm a senior at Oakland Technical High School. This year, I will be serving as one of the two Student Directors on the OUSD Board of Education! I am excited to be a helping hand to all students, making sure that whatever you need, I can help support to improve your school site. I want our adult decision makers to see and recognize that the youth have amazing solutions and ideas that will make our communities thrive.

I've been on the All City Council (ACC) Student Union team since I was a freshman, when I ran to become Culture and Climate Director, a post I was elected to at the end of my 8th grade year. I am a big believer in the power of restorative justice, and the importance of listening to all sides of an issue to understand the different perspectives. Over the last two years, I served as ACC President. Early on, I realized I was nervous addressing a room full of people all by myself, but I quickly adjusted and was able to bring my most positive spirit to our work.

I always made sure to create space in my meetings to help everyone feel comfortable and able to bring their best selves to the important work that we do. I'm a peer mentor at Oakland Tech where I specialize in listening to issues in everything including staff to student conversations, restorative justice healing circles, and further peer to peer check ins, and advising solutions and additional mental health resources.

My goal as Student Director is to ensure guidance and support for all OUSD youth while expanding restorative justice practices, allowing for growth in new and existing relationships, and making sure that adults hear our students' needs loud and clear.