Walton High Senior Named to State Advisory Council
A Cobb County student has been selected to help shape Georgia education policy for the 2026-27 school year.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Georgia Superintendent of Schools Richard Woods has appointed Turner Sahadevan, a senior at Walton High School, to the 2026-27 Student Advisory Council. Sahadevan is one of 85 students chosen from across the state to represent their peers.
Why it matters
The council provides a direct link between students and state leadership to address education issues and policies. By participating, student representatives work to improve school environments through service projects and feedback shared directly with the superintendent.
Turner Sahadevan was the sole student selected from the Cobb County School District. The council represents a competitive cohort chosen from 1,427 applicants, which included students from grades 10 through 12.
The players
Turner Sahadevan
A student at Walton High School who will serve as the sole representative for the Cobb County School District on the state advisory council.
Richard Woods
The Georgia Superintendent of Schools who leads state education initiatives and hosts the student advisory council.
The details
Selection for the council is determined by the strength of essay responses and the need for geographic representation across Georgia. Once appointed, these ambassadors meet periodically with Superintendent Richard Woods to discuss state-level education policy. Members also facilitate service projects designed to benefit their specific schools and local communities throughout the year.
Timeline
- 2026-10-07
The appointment was officially announced.
2026-27: The duration of the student council term.
The Home Front
This appointment follows the established cycle of the Georgia Department of Education's Student Advisory Council charter to integrate student voices into state governance. It highlights the growing trend of involving high school representatives in the oversight of regional education policies.
Parents and students should monitor council updates as representatives like Sahadevan begin their work on community service projects. This is a good opportunity for families to track how student-led initiatives might influence extracurricular programs or school policies in their district.
The takeaway
Student representation remains a key factor in how Georgia approaches state-level educational improvements. Families interested in these programs should watch for application windows for the 2027-28 school year, which are typically open to students in grades 10 through 12.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in Secondary Education across the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by East Cobb News.
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