STAFF REPORT
Glasgow News 1
Glasgow High School junior Trace Brooking has been selected as the new non-voting student member of the Kentucky Board of Education. His one-year term on the state board began July 1 and will run through June 30, 2027, according to the Kentucky Department of Education.
Brooking said he is excited for the opportunity to serve and believes it is important to give students more of a voice in state-level discussions. He said he is especially focused on making sure the students affected by education policies have a seat at the table.
“I’m big on civil representation, especially in legislation and policies that affect us,” Brooking said. “It’s really important to give young people a voice as they’re the generations that are going to follow and be affected.”
The Kentucky Board of Education includes one student member who serves a one-year term in a non-voting role. As the current student representative, Brooking said he plans to connect with principals, superintendents, teachers and students around Kentucky to learn what issues are most important in their communities.
He said he wants to do school visits and use social media, including videos and photos, to encourage students to reach out and share their concerns. Brooking said his goal is to listen and then bring that feedback to the board during its discussions.
Brooking’s interest in government began in eighth grade, when he started following news about the national government and the United Nations. That experience, he said, helped inspire him to work on increasing student understanding of government and boosting student representation in decision-making.
He credits his AP seminar teacher, Jaime McMillan, with encouraging him to pursue the student seat on the Kentucky Board of Education. Brooking also recently won a scholarship that allowed him to travel to Washington, D.C., with the Foundation for Rural Services.
During the four-day trip in June, Brooking joined 97 other students from around the country. The group heard from experts at the Federal Communications Commission and members of Congress and discussed ways to improve rural communities, according to the foundation’s program description.
Kentucky Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher said the Kentucky Department of Education is looking forward to Brooking’s input on issues affecting public school students. Fletcher said student voice helps guide the agency’s decisions and keeps the focus on Kentucky’s learners.
Brooking is already active in leadership and extracurriculars at Glasgow High School, where he serves on the student advisory board. He participates in speech and debate, a writing composite competition for the academic team, and plays tennis and runs cross country.
He said he is particularly proud of maintaining all A’s in his classes. Outside of school, he works as a barista at a coffee shop, plays pickleball and is training for a marathon in November.
As the non-voting student member of the Kentucky Board of Education, Brooking will also serve on the Commissioner’s Student Advisory Council. Looking ahead, he said he is interested in attending Duke University in North Carolina, studying law and following a political path that could one day lead to a seat in the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives.
Key Facts
– Glasgow High School junior Trace Brooking selected as non-voting student member of the Kentucky Board of Education
– One-year term runs from July 1 through June 30, 2027
– Brooking says he wants to amplify student voices on state education issues
– Plans outreach to schools and students across Kentucky and through social media
– Recently visited Washington, D.C., on a scholarship with the Foundation for Rural Services
– Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher says student voice strengthens state education decisions
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