Robbie Powelson was a student at Redwood in 2008, and has decided to bring his insider perspective to light by running for the Tamalpais Union High School District board.

“I thought I had something to say as a recent student and a perspective that needs to be heard more in our decision making process,” he said.  Although he attended Redwood, Powelson did not graduate. “Like my brother and many of my friends, the school’s administrative climate and drug culture caused an early exit,” he said.

Mental health and drug abuse are Powelson’s focus issues. After high school, Powelson worked at the Marin Advocates For Mental Health. “I’ve learned to work with the board as a team,” he said. He also worked with Marin Mental Health Board, and California Board of Mental Health.  Powelson said working with the Exploratorium helped him find his voice. “I started to gain confidence, speak out,” he said.

Powelson says that schools are not engaging enough for students, and that students don’t always feel like  full members of the community. He believes in strengthening wellness centers and counseling students. “If everybody here’s an active participant, our schools would be really engaging. It’s as simple as that,” he explained.

Powelson would like to see engagement in a broad sense, and is most concerned about mental health and substance abuse. He wants to introduce different types of learning, as he himself has an auditory processing disorder. He believes he has an edge over the other candidates. “I have a lot of experiences no one else has to offer,” Powelson said.