Sara Hamdaoui, a junior at Crofton High School, has been elected by members of the Chesapeake Regional Association of Student Councils (CRASC) to be the 2026-2027 student member of the Anne Arundel County Board of Education (SMOB). The results were announced today on CRASC’s Instagram page, @CRASC_Online.
Stella Chen of Severn Run High School and Olivia Takash of Broadneck High School were the other finalists for the position.
Hamdaoui’s name will be forwarded to Gov. Wes Moore, who must make the formal appointment. She would be the 53rd SMOB since students have held a seat on the Board and the second from Crofton High School. Hamdaoui’s older sister, Hafsa Hamdaoui, was the SMOB in the 2024-2025 school year.
“I’m incredibly honored and grateful for the trust students have placed in me,” Hamdaoui said. “This win isn’t just about me; it’s about making sure every student feels engaged, equipped, and empowered to create change in our schools. Let the work begin!”
Hamdaoui would succeed current SMOB Brayden Morgan of Glen Burnie High School, whose one-year term expires on June 30.
Hamdaoui is a member of the countywide Superintendent’s Teen Advisory Council and Crofton High School’s Principal Advisory Council. She is president of Crofton’s French Honor Society and a member of the school’s Key Club and National Honor Society chapter. She also serves on the Executive Board of the school’s Student Government Association and is an active member in CRASC and the Maryland Association of Student Councils.
Since June, Hamdaoui has also served as a team co-lead for Work2BeWell, a nationwide organization dedicated to improving access to mental health tools and resources. She also co-chairs the Communications Committee for the school district’s Student Service Leadership group, which works to inform students of service and volunteer opportunities.
Sara's campaign focused on engaging, equipping, and empowering students. During her year as SMOB, she plans to strengthen student voice through improved communication and expanded opportunities for input in decision-making. She also wants to emphasize giving students the tools and skills to advocate for themselves and understand Board actions and to prioritize a supportive school environment through mental health resources, wellness education, and consistent policy implementation.
Students have held a seat on the Board since 1974, when Andover High School’s Jeffrey Robinson served in an advisory capacity. Anne Arundel’s student member has had full voting rights since 1975 and is the only member of a local school board in the nation to have that status.
If appointed, Hamdaoui would assume her seat on July 1, 2026.
More information about the Student Member of the Board and the complete history of SMOBs can be found at www.aacps.org/smob.