SMOB Campaign Interview: Ananya Tadikonda

What is your name, grade, and school?

My name is Ananya Tadikonda. I am an 11th grader at Richard Montgomery High School.

What experiences in student leadership do you have?

I have been serving in Student Government for the past 5 years. I started my experience with school student government at Roberto Clemente Middle School and went on to pursue a position in the Montgomery County Junior Council, the countywide student government association. I then ran for and was elected the president of MCJC and fought for issues including cell phone use during middle school lunch periods, later bell times, environmental concerns, and full SMOB voting rights. I have also served as the Montgomery County Regional SGA’s (MCR-SGA) Treasurer, working to revamp a grant program promoting direct empowerment of students with varied interests across our county. I currently serve as the Vice President of MCR-SGA, where I mentor middle school students on the importance of leadership and advocacy. I have also pursued projects including collecting and presenting data on student mental health, and testifying about the operating budget, student mental health, and other important issues in this position. Finally, this year I co-founded and serve as the President of MoCo EmpowHER, the countywide student leadership organization aiming to create a close-knit community and network for female leaders.

On a scale of 1-10 how well is our county operating?

I believe that our county is operating at a 7.5 right now. Although we have a wide range of excellent resources, we must better prioritize them to maximize the academic experience we give each of our students. Furthermore, we must ensure that aspects including our curriculum content and teacher workforce better reflect the diverse body of students Montgomery County has. I believe that MCPS can work its way to a 10 if it takes a specific, guided course of action towards serving every student equitably.​

List in order what would be your priorities under your term if you were elected:

If I am elected SMOB, my priorities would be in the following order:

1. Equitable Resource, Access Although Montgomery County has an abundance of resources for its students, not every student reaps the benefits of access to these resources. I believe that if we work together to examine and allocate resources to schools that are in the most need of additional resources, we can close the opportunity and achievement gaps, as well as the stark disparities between specific schools and the resources they provide to students.

2. Improvement of school environment and atmosphere A fundamental aspect of a good education is having a positive, vibrant learning environment. This includes but is not limited to student social and emotional well-being, strength in the construction of classrooms, and a nutritious meal every day. I will approach this initiative by working towards the hiring of more school counselors, ensuring more comprehensive and long-lasting infrastructure changes, and a taskforce to examine school lunch quality and how it can be improved.

3. Issue Based Action Plan: Taskforce Model I plan to implement taskforces for 4—5 impactful issues so that students attend meetings where they are passionate specifically about the issue being discussed. The taskforce meetings will rotate geographically, so that students from Clarksburg or Silver Spring do not constantly have to drive long distances to voice their opinions.

4. Strength in Communication, I aim to visit school-based organizations who are engaged in advocacy work to carry their voice back to the board table. This way, I will be able to capture the diverse range of perspectives Montgomery County is fortunate to have and carry it forward into policy changes. Furthermore, I will strive to reach out to students who may not be involved in advocacy groups, and may be more engaged in other activities, to ensure no perspective is overlooked.

As our county is ever so expanding rapidly, what would you do about overcrowding schools?

I believe we need to make additions to our building that are long lasting and flexible. This will not require as much funding as building a new school and will ensure students have the space and resources for a comfortable learning environment. Furthermore, I believe we must hire more school staff to accommodate for the increase in students and ensure that each student receives a personalized academic experience from MCPS.

What characteristics do you most value in a SMOB, and how will you show those principles while your SMOB?

The traits I value most in a SMOB are communication and maturity. I think it is very important for the SMOB to maintain communication with the students not only virtually but also in person. It is my goal to visit every school at least once throughout the course of my term as SMOB. I will strive to hear the concerns from students of a variety of backgrounds and interests. Furthermore, I believe maturity is a significant aspect of holding this position, as the SMOB serves as a role model for many students, and must effectively be able to work with many adults, whether it be the Board members, teachers, or principals within this school system.

Any other comments?

None

Fun Facts:

What’s your Spirit Animal?

Flamingos!

What extracurricular activities do you participate in?

Model United Nations, Kids Are Scientists Too

Favorite Show:

Grey’s Anatomy

Favorite Book:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Favorite Celebrity:

Oprah Winfrey

Favorite School Subject:

Math