[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:01] Thank you all for being here. This afternoon, as we offer a fond farewell to the 48th student member of the board, a newva maloo.
[0:20] And a warm welcome to the 49th student member of the board. Loo the we.
[0:36] Now, you know, before we begin, we have to recognize a few people in the audience.
[0:40] And so, as I call your name, please stand.
[0:45] I'm going to start though with our former Smob's.
[0:49] So David Naman, our very first mob,
[0:56] Matt Post,
[1:02] Sammy Saeed,
[1:07] Pranil Surana,
[1:12] and we are also joined by our state
[1:15] mob. Lorina. Lorina, woo.
[1:23] Okay. Now, there are a few other people I'm looking in the audience
[1:27] and I see my Dersault former President of the Board of Ed.
[1:36] I see delicate Greg Wims,
[1:43] delicate, linda folly.
[1:50] Now, that's all I can see from here. If I missed you, please stand.
[1:55] Okay, I think I've got everybody.
[1:58] All right.
[2:00] So, we appreciate you joining us for today's event.
[2:05] Without further ado, I invite to the table,
[2:07] Ms. Karen Bush now.
[2:09] Clerk of the Court for the Circuit Court of Montgomery County
[2:13] to administer the oath to Mr. Dawey.
[2:23] I see you again.
[2:28] Raise your right hand and repeat after me.
[2:31] I rule the wheat.
[2:33] I rule the wheat.
[2:35] Do solemnly promise.
[2:36] Do solemnly promise.
[2:37] And declare.
[2:38] And declare.
[2:38] That I will support the Constitution of the United States.
[2:41] That I will support the Constitution of the United States.
[2:43] And that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance.
[2:46] That I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the state of Maryland.
[2:49] To the state of Maryland.
[2:50] And support the Constitution and laws thereof.
[2:52] support the Constitution and laws thereof and that I will do and and that I will do
[2:59] I will to the best of my skill and judgment and that I will to the best of my skill and judgment
[3:04] diligently and faithfully, diligently and faithfully, without partiality or prejudice,
[3:09] partiality or prejudice, execute the office of student board member,
[3:14] student board member, according to the Constitution and laws of the state, according to
[3:29] the
[3:30] You don't have to put it right there.
[3:37] I'll send you an alchemy and then you will be a fisher.
[3:46] Thank you so much.
[3:47] My pleasure.
[3:50] Oh, congratulations, Louis.
[3:52] We asked that you come up and join us at the dais.
[3:55] And so
[4:06] at this time, you can offer any remarks you'd like to offer.
[4:11] That's right. Put it up there.
[4:36] Good evening, everyone.
[4:38] to the members of the Board of Education, Dr. Taylor, district leaders, principals, educators,
[4:44] family, friends, and fellow students. Thank you all so much for being here.
[4:49] Now, for the first of many times, I get to say this. My name is Lodawi. I'm a rising junior
[4:55] at Northwood High School. And as of just now, I've become Montgomery County's 49 student
[4:59] member of the Board of Education.
[5:09] It really doesn't feel real to get to say those words out loud
[5:12] after years of ambition and giving so much to make it here.
[5:15] I mean, where can I even begin the speech?
[5:18] I could spend this part of the night talking about the policies
[5:20] I hope to champion, the challenges our school system faces,
[5:23] or the promises I want to make for the year ahead.
[5:25] But I have an entire year to prove those things through my actions.
[5:29] At first, I wanted to talk about my story.
[5:31] Maybe about my upbringing in MCPS,
[5:33] or maybe my unique perspectives attending DCC schools
[5:36] that may have been historically underserved,
[5:37] or maybe even about how campaigning for better toilet paper
[5:40] in my elementary schools as she would ultimately get me here, but if I spent the very first few
[5:46] minutes of my tenure talking about me and my story, I would be missing the entire point of this
[5:51] position, because this role was created to give a voice to thousands of others. So tonight,
[5:56] instead of telling you by story, I want to tell you about theirs. Over the past several months,
[6:01] I've had the insane privilege of visiting middle and high school throughout Montgomery County as part
[6:05] of my campaign. Every building obviously looked different, whether it was the traditions, demographic,
[6:10] but every single one was photo stories.
[6:13] Stories of students who would sit alone in class at lunch or on the bus
[6:17] wondering if anyone would notice if they just disappeared
[6:20] from anybody's routine that day.
[6:22] One day, stories of teachers who arrive hours before the day
[6:25] starts and leave long after the final blow
[6:27] because they believe every single one of their students can succeed.
[6:31] Stories of bus drivers, cafeteria workers,
[6:33] parents, educators, security staff, custodians and countless others
[6:36] Who may never appear in headlines, but whose kindness shapes what being an MCPS feels like every single day.
[6:43] None of these people will know each other.
[6:45] And unfortunately, many of them will never meet.
[6:48] The thing is, those stories don't fit into board agendas.
[6:50] They aren't written in the contracts, memos or policies.
[6:54] But behind all the statistics, votes and policies, we will deliberate going forward into the next year.
[6:59] They are people behind them.
[7:00] Their stories will push me and motivate me to get up every single day.
[7:04] driven to uphold their dreams, passions, and drive to be a part of such a successful educational institution
[7:11] as Montgomery County's next mob. Now, for this part I wanted to highlight the people who
[7:16] aren't in the spotlight, but made this journey all the while. The people who's believed,
[7:20] encouragement, and support has cared me to this very moment. Some have been here since the very beginning,
[7:25] and you know, very beginning as in the wild born, and some have joined along the way,
[7:28] but everyone
[7:30] One of them have left a mark on this journey.
[7:33] Where else could I begin, but with my parents? You both had put up with me and the other three of
[7:38] us for well over a decade and a half now, and that alone is a testament to the dedication
[7:42] you have both instilled in me to make it this far. Mom, you have driven me across this
[7:47] county nearly every day for almost two to three months with little to no notice for, I mean,
[7:59] know, you know, and nothing was, you know, on the surface, you still carry everything from the
[8:05] background for this campaign, including me getting, including getting me this suit just yesterday.
[8:10] And I strive to be that kind of humble going into next year and beyond. My friends, the council,
[8:17] Sam, I and an angelic, you guys were literally the first people to hear about my candidacy for
[8:22] small to seventh grade, even if I was partially joking at that point. And I'll never forget about, you know,
[8:26] joking and bantering about how I'd run against you Sam, and I'll make sure you get to
[8:30] live that dream through me.
[8:31] I and Angelique, you guys were literally there with me up until election day, and I will
[8:36] never forget that.
[8:37] My Chief of Staff for this campaign, Frook and Leo, you guys brought home these past six months,
[8:42] and the amount of discipline it took to run everything smoothly while I'm stressing calling
[8:46] you guys every other day, stressing about what our next plan of action would be is so commendable.
[8:50] When I look forward to keeping you both as Chief of Staff for my advisory council.
[8:53] So on that note, Rime, even though you unfortunately couldn't be with us tonight, I, seriously,
[8:58] I truly did look up to you so much and gained so much respect for how you carry yourself
[9:03] even before with MCJC NMCR up until election day.
[9:07] It's always amazing to see the Hopster representation anywhere, especially for something as
[9:10] monumental as Smob.
[9:12] And I look forward to working with you as another one of my cheapest staffs for my advisory
[9:15] council going in the next year.
[9:17] You're going to kill it going in their senior year and WJ really should be like so grateful
[9:22] to have such a personal figure representing them.
[9:25] My campaign team, all 54 of you, regardless of your position or status,
[9:30] let a grassroots movement spanning tens of thousands of students, staff and faculty,
[9:34] and one of the largest educational institutions in the country.
[9:37] I look forward to seeing all of you show up next year throughout my school visits
[9:40] and on my advisory council.
[9:42] My girlfriend, Mariana, who would always make sure that I'm not overly stressed out
[9:46] from this entire process, who unfortunately couldn't be with us today.
[9:49] I thank you and I, oh the world see you. I, you know, I'm sorry. I look forward to it.
[9:56] I would great final few days in the Philippines and then I'll get to introduce you also the first lady of the smart.
[10:03] Love you.
[10:05] Nuva, you have served as a testament to just how great a DCC smarts can be.
[10:10] And your energetic enthusiasm both online and in person reassures me that MCPS without a doubt made the right choice a year ago.
[10:17] I'm going to look up to you a lot as a friend, colleague, and to continue sharing the same music taste going into next year.
[10:23] And I just might need to continue that smob to UMD pipeline.
[10:26] Congrats.
[10:27] Thank you so much.
[10:29] Additionally, on that note,
[10:31] thank you to every single smob who has given the time to, who has taken the time to give me advice, experience, and support through our entire process.
[10:39] I mean, I'm telling you guys, I've emailed every single smob from David Neiman.
[10:43] I've been so here. I've been so new to get that kind of advice because I mean, it was really intriguing to see you know how life might have been for any mob since then
[10:52] And on that note in particular, thank you to Sammy Perneal Nate Matt Eric Sebastian Dustin and of course David and you know of course
[11:00] Rather they're watching online or they're here with us tonight
[11:03] I thank you for making you so proud to join a successful and thriving lineage of mobs
[11:07] That also goes from my fellow mob, so I'm going to be working alongside with across the state, including our state's mob.
[11:13] And the Prince George's mob was recently just sworn in this past week, Sydney, and I, of course, I make static to work with you all.
[11:20] A huge community, my Northwood people, sir, many people, wouldn't listen Northwood as a top 10 high school in MCPS.
[11:28] But what other school has numerous athletes recognized on the national level?
[11:31] What other school was named Best High School in the DMV by 9955?
[11:35] What other school be Einstein in football 42 to 28 after zero wins since 2018 and now what
[11:42] high school has a smile? I think every single one of you at Northwood, including Dr.
[11:47] Garrick, are fantastic principle for the amazing staff and students who have been able to be with
[11:53] us tonight watching or supporting and showing love throughout this entire campaign for being such
[11:57] spirited, such a spirited community, sorry. My favorite group of Northwood people, however,
[12:02] My musicians, Mr. Sullivan, you have been the teacher I have told everything about, which includes
[12:08] mob.
[12:08] I thank you for being so patient and understanding with me, even when I would have the
[12:12] misfit period nearly every single day due to my school visits or campaign related events.
[12:17] So my people in Symphonic ensemble, marching band and drum line, you have been my biggest
[12:21] supporters, and I know North and Music is going to be a good hands, which you all, though
[12:24] I hope I can still get to march with you guys next fall.
[12:28] My Parkland Middle and Brookhaven elementary communities, I'm flat, I still get to see so many
[12:32] of my, my past educators and faculty at both because of my three other siblings and don't
[12:37] many of you weren't around for the campaign itself. You laid the groundwork for the person
[12:40] I would go on to become. Mr. Shin and Mr. Kimber, I thank you both for being some of the
[12:44] most outgoing principles I have had the fortune of being a student under and I'll make sure
[12:47] my siblings stay in line for you both. I'll try to make sure I can see it. Mr. Cherry,
[12:54] despite being introduced to you after I broke my ankle at last year's MES events,
[12:59] I seriously could sell just how much passion and dedication you brought, serving as director
[13:04] for student leadership within MCPS and it is unparalleled.
[13:07] For eight amazing years in counting, you have almost single-handedly carried student leadership
[13:11] in MCPS alongside all the amazing staff of Carvers, who I could have known fortunately name
[13:15] go by name, and you molded it into the unmatched super-power student leadership is within
[13:20] Montgomery County, the state, and beyond.
[13:23] And I can rest assured, knowing my successes alongside these successes of any current and future
[13:28] student leaders on the MSPS will be bound off with you around, thank you so much.
[13:31] Second to last, how could I not acknowledge the amazing people I have been and will continue
[13:36] to work alongside, I'm as excited as I'll ever be to get to read all those agendas and
[13:41] memos. And so the board staff, you all are the epitome of the forces behind the scenes of
[13:47] all the boards functioning and though I've only been around for about a month now, it really
[13:51] does feel like it's been like a such welcoming place to be with the amount of hospitality I've
[13:56] with and I hope that can continue to stay the same going in next year.
[14:01] And this is for the final stretch.
[14:03] There is one more group of people I would like to acknowledge who I believe are
[14:07] pretty cool and essential for our function as a school system.
[14:10] The 156,000 students of MCPS.
[14:13] Unfortunately, we couldn't fit all of you into this program tonight.
[14:17] Unfortunately, I can name all 76,141 middle and high school students
[14:23] who make MCPS the dominant institution it is.
[14:25] But every single one of you is the reason I'm standing here because well the oath I just took a few moments ago is meant for one person
[14:31] This position has always belonged to every student across Montgomery County and has been for the past 48 years now across 49 smallbs
[14:40] This next year is by no means going to be easy, but
[14:43] One thing I've learned throughout this journey that I've held on to since I started running
[14:47] Is that leadership isn't measured by the title you hold or the power that comes with it?
[14:52] It's measured by the people you inspire to believe they belong here next because maybe somewhere tonight or some time in the future there's a leader
[15:00] Activist, or even future mob who hasn't discovered student leadership yet. And if that's you, I hope you know this. Stand up for what's right, even when it's not the popular choice. Even when people tell you to back down in yield and one day, this oath can belong to you too. Because another 50 years from now, nobody's ever going to remember every meeting we attended or every vote we cast on the board. They'll remember whether we let the school system better than we found it. And that is the responsibility I accept tonight. And that is the promise I make to all 156,000
[15:29] 50 students and nearly 14,000 educators and 12,000 faculty and staff members of MCPS
[15:35] going to next year.
[15:37] For the last time, hopefully, for tonight, I thank you all for trusting you with your
[15:41] voice.
[15:42] Now let's rise up to make this next year unforgettable.
[15:45] Thank you so much.
[16:01] Thank you, little great remarks.
[16:02] Next, we'll hear from Annuva, your final remarks.
[16:07] My final remarks.
[16:10] It's crazy to think that this will be my last time looking out from this perspective, although
[16:13] I will say I'm a bit excited to be an audience next time.
[16:17] That being said, good afternoon, everyone,
[16:19] and I apologize for my voice.
[16:21] Throughout this past year, I made the many monumental milestones
[16:25] achieved in MCPS history.
[16:27] There were just as many, if not more,
[16:29] difficult decisions that the board had to make.
[16:32] After nearly every work session,
[16:34] I found that the number one question people would ask me,
[16:38] was, did you ever regret serving as small?
[16:41] And what do you all think the answer was to that?
[16:46] No, it's correct.
[16:48] But the only reason for that is because of everyone sitting here on the diets.
[16:54] Those in the crowd and every text call and conversation throughout this past year,
[17:00] I have had with everyone in MCPS.
[17:04] To my mother, father, brothers and friends, thank you for your unwavering support
[17:08] and kindness throughout this year.
[17:10] I owe all of you more than I can ever express and I know I've gone brought you so many
[17:16] so many hardships over this past year, but I am incredibly grateful for your love.
[17:21] To Luca Zayn, Nicole Peter, Priya, Fallen, Harry, and so many other friends.
[17:25] Thank you for your unwavering support. No matter how many times,
[17:29] I came to you late at night complaining about another thing that happened at work or something
[17:34] with students. I owe you everything. To Laura, thank you for always being willing to experience
[17:40] something that will long sign me. From board events to simply just grabbing coffee, I am so grateful
[17:45] to have served with you. To Carla, thank you for being such a steady presence throughout my
[17:51] experience as small. From heat, always keeping us on track every meeting to picking up my
[17:56] missed motions. I am grateful to have served with you. To Julie, thank you for an every shying away
[18:02] from asking difficult questions. From being the first to call whenever we are different perspectives
[18:06] to talking through every issue with respect. I am grateful to have served with you.
[18:11] To Dr. Taylor, thank you for being a constant pillar of support for both the board and for me throughout this past year.
[18:18] From our TikTok budget video trends all the way up until my graduation, I am grateful to have served alongside you.
[18:25] To grace, thank you for your heart and unwavering kindness you've shown me this past year.
[18:31] From exchanging brief smiles during our eight hour meetings to our chocolate candy runs,
[18:35] I am grateful to have served with you.
[18:38] So Brenda, thank you for being my biggest role model on the board.
[18:42] From helping guide me through many of our most difficult conversations to the reassuring
[18:46] eye contact across the dias, I am incredibly grateful to have served alongside you.
[18:52] Terita, thank you for always bringing a different perspective to every meeting.
[18:56] You've opened my eyes to many other mindsets and from resolutions to proposals, I am grateful
[19:02] to have served alongside you.
[19:04] To Natalie, thank you for always finding a way to make me laugh, even after every single 10
[19:09] hour meeting.
[19:10] We thought we were about to be done and there was another thing at all, I'm sorry guys.
[19:16] From the little notes, we passed to each other to the countless life updates we shared.
[19:20] I am grateful to have served alongside you to L.C. Tom and S.E.E. Thank you for being some of my biggest
[19:26] borders throughout my time on the board. I would never have felt prepared to make the decisions I did
[19:31] without your guidance. And L.C.I.M. so sorry about all those late-night phone calls to me.
[19:38] To Miss Cherry Miss Rice and Miss Dean, thank you for always being my safe place. I owe this
[19:43] success of my Small Advisory Council, the Relationships I built with so many students across
[19:47] MCPS and so many of my accomplishments to all of you from the beginning to the end.
[19:52] To D-th and Arlene, thank you for guiding me through every increasing hygiene product
[19:58] obstacle, way too many kept coming up, every small scope article and for lifting me up
[20:03] whenever I felt discouraged after facing criticism.
[20:07] Tumonika, Patty, Yolanda, Becky, Victoria, James, and so many others behind the scenes,
[20:11] including MCPS, TV, Dan, and every single thing you see online, thank you for unwavering
[20:16] support to the board and for me as well throughout my term.
[20:20] I know that I was a lot, but the greatest lesson I've learned this year is that no one is
[20:25] successful on their own.
[20:27] Behind every single accomplishment is a community of people who believe in you before you even
[20:32] believe in yourself.
[20:34] And so while this moment is certainly bittersweet, I am incredibly excited for the future
[20:38] of our county.
[20:39] I know Louis will do a great job and I can't wait to see all of the accomplishments he will
[20:44] throughout this next year. And at a time when confidence in public education is declining
[20:50] across the nation, I stand here as someone who is immensely proud to be the product of an
[20:56] MCPS education. And that is because of all of you here today.
[21:02] Shape 2 I am gave me the opportunities I never imagined and trust in me to represent over
[21:07] 160,000 students. It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as the 48th student member of
[21:14] Board of Education from CPS. Thank you all.
[21:33] So thank you, Annuva. The Board appreciates the passion and student-centered advocacy that you have brought to the Board this year.
[21:42] I also want to bring you greetings from Grace. Grace was detained or flight was canceled from yesterday and she's still trying to get back to Maryland as we speak.
[21:55] Julie, she's off doing her mother duties, which as you know have to come first, she's
[22:01] getting her daughter settled in medical school. So they wouldn't have missed it other than
[22:07] that, you know that. Now, we have a few small gifts for you, but before I do that, I do
[22:16] want to notice that we've been joined by Shabber Evans, former board member, and now Council
[22:22] Remember,
[22:28] you know what?
[22:30] I hate these goodbyes. I really do. I really do, I'm not good, because I cry. But I do have gifts for you from the board.
[23:09] With that I'd like to open up the floor for any of my board members who might want to make remarks.
[23:15] and I start with Raider, go ahead.
[23:18] Thank you.
[23:19] I just want to thank you, Anuva,
[23:21] for the grace that you showed and demonstrated for all of us,
[23:26] including the adults in the room,
[23:28] through some really challenging,
[23:30] not just discussions and decisions,
[23:33] but just engagements.
[23:35] This was a really challenging year,
[23:37] as a lot of you know,
[23:39] and it was challenging as an adult,
[23:41] but as a student who is living these decisions,
[23:44] And a way that we are not, I was just so impressed with the grace that you carried yourself with and I just appreciate that for you
[23:51] And I know that you're going to do amazing things when you leave here
[23:54] So thank you so much for all of bringing that to the board table and being such a wonderful example for all of our students
[24:00] And I have looked very much forward to working with you Lail throughout the year
[24:05] Natalie
[24:07] Thank you
[24:08] I am so incredibly proud of you and it is such an honor to have been any small part in your story and especially thinking about how this year is
[24:21] One year in the so many that you will have that will be impactful for not only students, but really for the world that I just have such strong faith that you are going to
[24:33] be able to create whatever movements and go wherever you believe you'll go. I just really
[24:39] admire that about your admire your tenacity and how you connect with so many people.
[24:47] And this year, as I mentioned, was not an easy year. Not to brag, but I got my first gray hair.
[24:59] It was really wonderful to be able to serve that beside you, and to be able to play that role with you during this.
[25:09] And for that, I'm just, again, without other words, to say I'm very, very, very proud of you.
[25:14] I'm just excited to see where else life takes you.
[25:16] and for a little, you have some big shoes to fill, but I am certain that you will be able to
[25:25] fill them in your own way and to be able to take on this role as yourself and I look forward to
[25:32] seeing you show up and grow into this role as well this next year. Laura,
[25:41] this is hard for us and yet
[25:45] also it's a celebration. It's a celebration that Annuva is moving on to other great things
[25:53] from a great start right here at the Board of Education. I remember when I met you,
[26:00] when you were leading the DCC NEC Coalition, and I thought, wow, she has so much energy and this
[26:11] drive to better the world and I could see that right away so I was so excited when you got
[26:17] to be on the board because I knew you would continue that. You were always prepared. You held
[26:24] to your values and you were so brave and I actually sometimes thought about you when we were
[26:32] tested, I'm like, you know, if a new book can go and do this every day, we can do it.
[26:39] So the student board member, I think, always brings such a great perspective because they
[26:45] are actually in the schools every day.
[26:48] And I appreciated hearing from you and your experience and your fellow student experience.
[26:56] Again, I think you're going to do awesome as you leave here, and I'll miss you.
[27:04] I'll miss your style too, because you brought a finash to the board, it was great.
[27:10] But I am very happy, the little little will be here.
[27:15] Again, I enjoyed watching you grow over the last year, and I know you're going to be an
[27:22] amazing addition to the board. And I have to say go DCC while we still have it. And I
[27:34] love that you're fellow bank geeks. So I look forward to seeing you, lead us in some
[27:40] great discussions. And I guess that's all I have to say. So again, it's a happy and
[27:47] that occasion, but I feel really hopeful, so thank you.
[27:54] Carla.
[27:56] Well, good afternoon, everyone, and just wanted to thank a newva for a wonderful year
[28:02] of service.
[28:03] Certainly done a fantastic job elevating the student voice to the public, but also to us
[28:09] as your board colleagues.
[28:13] As I got to know, I knew spending all this time preparing for board meetings, going out
[28:19] to the community, she's got a whole other world, life in social media, keeping up with
[28:25] constituent concerns from the students via social media, I knew it was a lot and I also
[28:31] knew that she was doing college applications, finishing up strong as a senior at MCPS, then
[28:38] learn she was also a competitive swimmer. That means a lot of time getting up early and going to
[28:44] the pool. And then most recently I learned that she's also a classical Indian dancer and has devoted
[28:50] years and years of preparation. And so just I continue to be impressed with everything that you are
[28:58] and I somewhat look forward to following your trajectory as you go on to UMD as a proud
[29:04] anti-continuing to see you flourish and thank you to the family for everything that you
[29:11] have done to bring a new vote to this place and it's been an honor to serve with you.
[29:17] You are, I think as a colleague, I really admire your thoughtful, calm approach that you
[29:23] brought to all of these difficult decisions and also your mission focus, really staying focused
[29:28] on your values and what we are here to do for our community and for our students and
[29:33] So we're going to miss you, but thankful that you're not going too far away. We know where to find you.
[29:40] Low, I so look forward to getting to know you, meeting you, and just hoping that you get to enjoy
[29:47] junior year. You are in a great school system. Junior year is wonderful and important.
[29:54] And so look forward to working with you, get to know your colleagues because as the wise
[29:59] Brenda Wolf.
[30:00] Allways says it takes five votes to get anything. So thank you.
[30:06] Dr. Taylor, would you like to share a few words? Certainly would, and I'll be brief also.
[30:11] You were, so that I'm active and not repetitive, but 48, you were pretty great.
[30:20] You really were and it's been such a privilege to get to know you and to get to know your family and to be a part, a small part of your movie.
[30:32] You really have elevated the voice of students in the county in a really meaningful way when tough decisions were on the table and needed student voice.
[30:43] I think it's been said already about your dedication and your courage and your commitment to the school system but beyond all of that and this is something that I don't think a lot of people have mentioned about you but is so true your depth and breadth of knowledge in this work and how absolutely committed and hardworking you have been throughout.
[31:07] I have a small token of appreciation. It's a book because I'm a teacher and that's what we do.
[31:16] But just know that how very much you were appreciated and how much you loved on this board.
[31:25] It was mentioned that you have big shoes to fill. That was metaphoric.
[31:30] It was not literal, they're actually very tiny shoes literally, but we know that you are stepping in at an equally challenging time, and there's going to be a lot on your plate, but we are proud of both of you, and it's a good year to be a smob, your state counterpart, Marina Wu from Poolsville, gets to work with you.
[31:57] It's a great year to be a smob from Montgomery County, as they'd say.
[32:02] And so for whatever it's worth, you have a network of people that are here to support
[32:07] you.
[32:08] Please learn from the fantastic smobs that have come before you and just know that we are
[32:15] in this together.
[32:16] Welcome to the family, Anova, my friend, my boss, you've been a great boss.
[32:23] You will always be a part of the family and just know how much we're appreciative of
[32:27] Thank you. Congratulations.
[32:37] And if I get the final word, I guess, saying I'm going to keep it short because everything's already been said.
[32:45] This has been a tough year and you have demonstrated courage and grace under all of the decisions that we've had to make.
[32:55] I know that you represent it, the students here well.
[33:01] I know that you didn't always vote the way they wanted you to,
[33:05] but you made the decision based on your own conscience.
[33:09] And that was important.
[33:11] And the rule, welcome to the board.
[33:15] I know that you'll do a great job because you said something at the end
[33:19] that was very important and you acknowledged all of the people that helped you get here.
[33:24] that's very important. As a nuva said, remember that it takes a village to get this work done.
[33:33] So welcome to the board. And right now we would like to invite everyone to join us on the third floor
[33:40] for some light refreshments. This concludes our session this afternoon. Thank you.