Pictured: Itzel Contreras Montiel, center, with the district's board of directors and leaders
Congratulations to Prairie High School senior Itzel Contreras Montiel! A student representative on the district's board of directors for the past two school years, Contreras Montiel received the 2026 Washington Association of School Administrators Student Leadership Award for the Columbia River Region. She was selected for elevating student voice; advancing equity and belonging; and strengthening school governance through thoughtful advocacy, service, and the ability to inspire others at both the district and statewide level. Following her graduation in June, Itzel plans to attend the University of Oregon.
Nomination for Itzel
Itzel serves as a student representative for Battle Ground Public Schools. She provides consistent, thoughtful and courageous leadership on behalf of students across the district. In this role, she elevates student voice in district-level governance, ensuring that policies and decisions reflect real student experiences. Her approach is grounded in equity, belonging and long-term system improvement--clear indicators of leadership and service to the greater good.
A defining example of this leadership occurred in November 2025, when Itzel addressed hundreds of school board members, superintendents and educational leaders at the Washington State School Directors Association conference. In this statewide forum, she spoke compellingly about the importance of student representatives on school boards, articulating how using authentic student voice strengthens governance, improves decision making and builds trust between school systems and their community. This moment demonstrated vision, courage and influence well beyond her local district.
Itzel leads by example and serves as a powerful role model for student engagement and civic leadership. Her involvement in her school's Associated Student Body, the National Honor Society and the Health Occupation Students of America club encourages her peers to participate in leadership, advocates for student well-being and helps others take responsibility for improving their school communities. Students look for Itzel not only for guidance, but for confirmation that their voices matter and that meaningful change is possible.
Itzel embodies the very best of what public schools hope to see in their graduating youth.