Dunbar Junior Picked for KDE Advisory Council

Twelve public high school students, including Paul Laurence Dunbar junior Tejas Basneth, have been selected for the 2025-26 Commissioner’s Student Advisory Council. They join 10 returning members on the council, which connects students with Kentucky Department of Education staff to develop ideas to strengthen student voices and transform education. 

Tejas, who is in the Math, Science, & Technology Center program at Dunbar, is currently the council’s only representative from Fayette County Public Schools. "I plan to talk to people across our district to have all our voices heard," he said. "We'll talk about how we can make an impact."

The group will meet regularly with Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher, both in person and virtually, to discuss how decisions made at the state level affect students statewide.

Nearly 60 students applied for a spot on the advisory council. The newly chosen members will serve this school year and, if eligible, will have the option to serve again in 2026-27.