April 17, 2026 – By Henry Wolf
The MoCo Student Member of the Board Election will take place on Wednesday April 22, 2026. Full video interview linked at the end.
Meet Leul Dawit, a sophomore from Northwood High School, and a finalist for the 49th student member of the board (SMOB). Outside of running for SMOB, Dawit is a musician, athlete, artist, and photographer. Dawit has passionately campaigned for progress throughout the county, district, and state.
Campaign Centered on Representation
“My campaign is centered on representation. With so many changes happening at the county, state, and national level, I feel there’s a lot we need to address and rethink,” Dawit said. “Representation is the cornerstone of how we get those issues addressed, ensuring that communication is tailor-made so there’s no disconnect between students and the county’s decision-making process.”
One of the biggest stigmas surrounding SMOB is that they have very little impact, especially compared to the rest of the school board. Dawit recognizes this, and is trying to create progress beyond just his tenure, especially regarding the rise of anti-Semitism and other forms of hate crimes in schools.
Addressing Safety, Bias, and Accountability
“Anti-Semitism, and hatred toward any minority group, is unacceptable, full stop. My approach to addressing it starts with education, but not just broad presentations that try to appeal to emotion. We need to meet students where they are, one-on-one, listening to what’s working and what isn’t,” Dawit said. “I want to break the stigma that the SMOB doesn’t do anything. Real progress means sitting down with students and parents who have been bullied or targeted, and working with them personally to build lasting programs. Honestly, a lot of what I’d start won’t be fully realized within my tenure; it takes years. But the goal is to begin breaking these systemic barriers from the root.”
One of Dawit’s biggest strengths is his personal connection to issues. He has been directly connected to several issues such as prejudice, hate crimes, and domestic violence in schools. He has known several peers who have dealt with these issues, which gives Dawit direct insight into how they were handled.
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“Speaking from personal experience, I know peers who’ve dealt with domestic violence and dating abuse, and the way those cases were handled was deeply inadequate. Seeing a perpetrator receive little more than an in-school suspension for weeks or months of abuse is, frankly, disgusting,” Dawit said. “Restorative justice isn’t being practiced to its full extent. Victims aren’t being centered, and the broader school community isn’t being taught what is and isn’t acceptable behavior. We need to move beyond just punishing offenders and start genuinely educating students on what’s morally right.”
Infrastructure and Student Experience
Similarly to his personal experience with prejudice and hate crimes, Dawit also has experienced first hand the poor facilities and long bus rides common in MCPS. Dawit, who goes to Northwood high school, is going to Woodward high school which is not fully complete. His personal connection to the issue has made it one of his biggest focuses throughout his campaign.
“Infrastructure is something I’ve been hitting hard throughout my campaign, and it comes directly from personal experience. Being a student at Northwood, which is essentially an active construction site, is a testament to how much the county is failing on this front,” Dawit. “Putting “1,800 students into an unfinished building that won’t be done for three more years is unacceptable. As SMOB, I’d focus on the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), the budget allocating funds to renovations and full rebuilds, and push to ensure it’s being used equitably and on schedule.”
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Mental Health and Student Support
An alarming trend plaguing MCPS, and schools all over the world, is mental health problems with students. Although it has been addressed by the current administration; although many feel like there has not been enough support, including Dawit.
“Mental health. It’s a global issue, and it’s showing up in our county through increased substance use, violence, and disengagement. A lot of it comes from the immense academic pressure students face, often with unrealistic expectations,” Dawit said. “As SMOB, I’d push to expand wellness centers across MCPS. Having one at Northwood has made a real difference in my own life; being able to step away during AP exam season and decompress for 30 to 60 minutes matters. Every school should have that.”
On a final note, Dawit has campaigned on the back of his personal experiences. They have shaped how he views MCPS, and is ready to create positive change in the county. Even if you don’t think you will vote for Dawit, he still encourages you to vote.
“No exaggeration, this election matters enormously for Montgomery County. Whoever you vote for on April 22nd, please vote,” Dawit said. “Throwing away your vote hurts you, your siblings, and your classmates more than voting for any candidate. Think about your values. Think about what you want to see change in your school and your county.”
Full interview below: