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Newt Shosteck, a rising senior at Hayfield Secondary School, will begin a one-year term July 1 as the student representative on Fairfax County’s school governing body.

The countywide Student Advisory Council elected Shosteck to the nonvoting position. He will be the 56th student representative and succeeds Faith Mekonen, a recent South County High School graduate.

Shosteck’s priorities include strengthening the advisory council and student participation in decisions, reforming school security policies and improving mental health services throughout Fairfax County Public Schools.

He wants the school system to create a consistent countywide process for reaching psychologists and social workers. Students would be able to view a social worker’s next available appointment and reserve a time through their student services center without asking someone directly or automatically notifying their parents.

Shosteck said easier access could help students who struggle to advocate for themselves or tell others when they need support.

To gather feedback, he plans to meet with high school students across the county, increase awareness of the representative’s role, distribute surveys about specific policies and establish a contact form where students can submit concerns.

Shosteck pledged to remain accessible and represent all 180,000 FCPS students, including those attending elementary and middle schools.

His previous leadership experience includes representing the Franconia District in a school governance leadership development program and serving as president of the Hayfield High School Democrats. He also founded a political science website where he publishes articles, manages a newsletter and creates election forecasting models.