For years, Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter School student Calique Barnes spoke before the D.C. State Board of Education (DCSBOE) and reached out to its representatives about school safety, vocational training, and mental health.
Now, as a newly minted student representative, he will get to shape policy suggestions around those, and other issues of concern.
On Thursday, Calique took an oath of office at Thurgood Marshall Academy PCS’ library as members of his family and more than 70 of his classmates watched in awe.
Moments later, Calique, dressed to the nines in a fitted burgundy suit, took the podium and reflected on how his community prepared him for the next level of student leadership. He did so with DCSBOE Representatives Eboni-Rose Thompson (Ward 7), Dr. Carlene Reid (Ward 8), and Dr. Jacque Patterson (At large) and DCSBOE executive director Bernice Butler within earshot.
“I was nervous…but I’m here to rep y’all, especially within Ward 8,” Calique, 16, told his classmates. “To make sure our voices as young people are heard, I will continue to be there for you. Even if I’m not being anything. I’m ready and I give all honor, glory and praise to God.”
The Latest Role for a Longtime Student Leader
Calique, a lifelong Ward 8 resident, follows in the footsteps of Tatiana Robinson, a Ballou Senior High School alumna who served as a state board student representative between 2017 and 2019.
When DCSBOE meets on Sept. 4, he will be joined by three other state board student representatives: Anna Mayer of School Without Walls in Northwest; Ryan Zhi Rei Ting of BASIS DC in Northwest; and Mengting Lin of Roosevelt High School, also in Northwest.
Their swearing-in ceremonies will take place after Calique’s, in the days leading up to the DCSBOE meeting.
Throughout the 2023-2024 school year, Calique, Anna, Ryan, and Mengting will meet monthly with the Student Advisory Committee, a body of more than 50 District public and public charter school students, as they weigh in on policy issues that come before the state board.
The Student Advisory Committee will also compile an annual report chock full of recommendations on education policy. In years past, the committee recommended diversifying and increasing student state board representatives from two to four, allocating extra resources to help students navigate post-secondary options, and further exploring the causes of low teacher retention.
This year, Calique will fulfill his role as a state board student representative while serving as senior class president at Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter School (PCS). In years past, Calique represented his class as a junior and, in the absence of a student government association, organized his peers around issues of significance, including public safety.
Those efforts included a tour of the community surrounding Thurgood Marshall Academy PCS that Calique and a couple of his classmates took elected officials on, so as to give a firsthand account of what students encounter on their daily commutes.
As a student ambassador, Calique has also given prospective students an inside look at his school. Earlier this year, he represented Thurgood Marshall Academy PCS, and Ward 8, once again when he gave the keynote address at the annual prayer breakfast honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr at Matthews Memorial Baptist Church in Southeast, D.C.
Raymond Weeden, Thurgood Marshall Academy PCS’ executive director, told The Informer that Calique has shown a knack for leadership since his freshman year when he sought out, and gave his opinions about school policy, to administrators.
Calique’s ascension to DCSBOE, Weeden said, puts Ward 8 in a positive light.
“It’s just another reminder that Calique is not an anomaly,” said Weeden, who’s in his sixth year as Thurgood Marshall PCS’ executive director. “There are more than 70 seniors here who will be accepted to college. Let’s keep getting these stories out here. Calique does a great job of making sure he’s talking about his entire community. That’s important.”
DCSBOE Representative Dr. Carlene Reid (Ward 8) echoed those sentiments, telling The Informer about what she called Calique’s vigilance. Reid counted an instance, earlier this year, when Calique advocated for the higher prioritization of vocational education.
That experience, Reid said, counts among the several she’s had with Calique, who she calls a young man ready to work for the people.
“He will do a good job of representing east of the Anacostia River,” Reid said. “He’s not a leader just in his school, but in the community. He’s pressed for us to move key initiatives for safety and education. He’s a model citizen so he’ll be a model leader who thinks beyond himself.”
Calique Barnes: A Good Leader, and an Even Better Friend
Calique told The Informer that he counts his mother, Camille Barnes, his pastor, Timothy Proctor of Prayer and Praise Ministries in Oxon Hill, Maryland, and D.C. Councilmember Trayon White (D-Ward 8) among his role models. His dream schools are Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University, both located in Atlanta, what he calls an epicenter of Black excellence.
As far as his goals, Calique sees leadership within the government as the most viable means to effect change. DCSBOE, he said, will take him along that trajectory.
“I’m simply ready to be that voice for the youth…who feel that they don’t have a voice,” Calique said. “I can bridge that gap between students and adults. We grew up in an environment filled with negativity so the [school] building should be the safest [place]. I could get feedback from younger people to see what they need from different perspectives.”
At least two Thurgood Marshall Academy PCS students said they can attest to Calique’s love for his peers. They stood alongside Calique after the swearing-in ceremony on Thursday, basking in the festive atmosphere.
Esther Jolayemi, a 17-year-old senior, told The Informer that, for as long as she’s known Calique, he has exhibited confidence that becomes contagious.
“Everyone loves Calique because he gets to know people on a personal level and he’s always trying to find a solution to move his community,” Esther said. “He showed us to put God first. I struggled with my relationship with God, and Calique told me he will pray for me. Those prayers pushed me through hard times.”
For Zarra Graves, Calique’s installment as DCSBOE student representative was a long time coming for a person who often puts others’ needs before his own. Zarra said she saw that firsthand last year when, during student government association elections, Calique helped her with her efforts even as they were campaigning for the same seat.
“Calique never made anything a competition,” Zarra said. “We’re all helping to do the same thing [and] he’s going to put everything in him to pursue that dream. He puts himself first to make sure people’s voices are heard. Calique helped me to stand in front of people. He pushed me to face my fears.”
The Black Press is credited for many things but one thing it excels in is pointing out future leaders of the race. Calique looks like he will be one of those leaders. It is critical Black newspapers report to the community on rising political, civic and educational stars in our community, and not just accept those who the mainstream media says should lead us. Great story, Sam!!