Canutillo ISD swears in new Student Advisors to Board of Trustees

Canutillo Independent School District on Tuesday swore in two new Student Advisors who will spend the 2026-27 school year sitting alongside elected Board of Trustees members, providing student perspectives and advising the Board on the issues and decisions that affect the District’s more than 5,500 students.

Canutillo High School senior Mia Valle and Northwest Early College High School senior Ines Andrade will serve as the District’s Student Advisors, representing their classmates and bringing the student perspective to the Board’s discussions throughout the school year.

The Student Advisor program is one of Canutillo ISD’s signature efforts to create meaningful opportunities for student engagement. In 2021, the District became the first school district in Texas to seek and receive permission to establish the Student Advisor to the Board of Trustees position.

Since then, one student from Canutillo High School and one from Northwest Early College High School have served as Student Advisors each school year. The students sit alongside trustees at the dais, participate in Board discussions, review information and provide input on issues before the Board, helping elected officials consider the student perspective as they make important decisions.

“We want our students to have a seat at the table,” Superintendent Dr. Josue Borrego said. “Our Student Advisors bring a perspective that no one else in the room can provide. They help us understand how the decisions we make as adults are experienced by the students we serve.”

Valle is a legacy Eagle whose father graduated from Canutillo High School. During her four years at CHS, she has developed her leadership skills through student government while also promoting Eagle pride as a member of the cheerleading squad. She is also involved in HOSA, the National Honor Society, DECA and the Texas Association of Future Educators.

Valle plans to continue her education after high school with the goal of becoming a nurse practitioner.

Andrade is a high-achieving senior at Northwest Early College who has already begun earning scholarship offers just one month into the school year. She is involved in High Q, the National Honor Society, Business Professionals of America and the Spanish Club.

Andrade plans to study urban planning in college with the goal of helping cities develop more sustainable practices.

Both students bring extensive leadership and academic experience to their new roles and will spend the year working alongside trustees and District leadership.

Board President Sergio Martinez administered the oath of office to Valle and Andrade during Tuesday’s Board meeting before the two students took their seats alongside the elected trustees.

The Student Advisor program is one of several ways Canutillo ISD is working to ensure students have meaningful opportunities to participate in the decisions that shape their educational experience.

For Valle and Andrade, their year on the Board will provide an opportunity to represent their classmates while gaining firsthand experience with public service, governance and leadership.

Most importantly, they will help ensure that when Canutillo ISD makes decisions about its schools and students, the voices of the students themselves are part of the conversation.

“Every student voice matters,” Borrego said. “Mia and Ines have an important responsibility this year, and I look forward to learning from them and seeing the impact they will make.”