CHS Senior A'Nijah O'Dell Welcomed as 26-27 Student School Board Member

The Collinsville Community Unit School District #10 Board of Education has approved Collinsville High School senior A’Nijah O’Dell as their 2026-27 student school board member. 

She was approved and welcomed at the board’s August regular monthly meeting.  

A’Nijah is an outstanding student; ranked in the top 2 percent of her class.  In addition, she has been a member of the Student Council, Math Team, Key Club, National Honor Society (secretary), Black Student Union and Mu Alpha Theta math honor society.  

The Collinsville-Maryville-Caseyville Rotary Club chose A’Nijah to serve as a representative to the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) Camp, where she represented Collinsville High School, participated in multiple workshops and activities, collaborated with others and discussed future Rotary endeavors.  

A’Nijah plans to become an educator and has started preparing for that role by participating in the Collinsville Area Vocational Center’s future teachers program. Last year, she was a student-teacher in the CAVC preschool program where she worked with children from 2 to 5 years old.  This year, she is enrolled in the program’s Education Practicum.  A’Nijah is  active in the CHS Future Teachers Club, where she served as treasurer. 

Her plans to become a teacher were part of the reason she applied for the position of student school board member.  However, it is her desire to make a difference for her fellow students that is in the forefront of her intentions for the role.  
  
“Since I was 5 years old, I have always told everyone that I want to become a teacher, and now I know why,” said A’Nijah. “For me, school has been, for the most part, a comfortable, enjoyable space, and I believe that every student deserves to feel that way about their school.  Schools are meant to be a common ground meeting place for students from all backgrounds, like a bridge connecting everyone.

“I have a desire to make changes for the better of current and future students. This position seems like a great opportunity to help, more than just helping high school students or certain groups, but serving an entire community of students.”  

She looks forward to serving as the student voice on the school board this year, “Students’ voices deserve to be heard, especially when decisions that are made affect them every day, for many months, for years and years, until they leave the school system.”

Starting in 2015, the CUSD 10 Board of Education has chosen a CHS senior to serve in a non-voting, advisory position. Interested students apply at the end of their junior year and are vetted by high school staff.  The board selects an individual from among the applicants to serve from August until May.  

The student school board member attends each regular monthly meeting and offers insight when called upon by the board.  In addition, the student member chooses a special project to complete during their term.  Past topics have included extracurricular activities, access to school services and student mental health.  

A’Nijah’s personal interest in education opens the door for her to gain behind-the-scenes insight and access to district leadership, all before she starts college.  She is currently finalizing her college applications which are targeted to universities in Illinois.  

A’Nijah O’Dell is the daughter of Cierra and Darrion O’Dell of Maryville, Ill.