HS junior named to State Student Advisory Council
Posted on 12/12/2019
Heather Sparks(SPS) -- It’s not typical for one of the nearly 700,000 students in Oklahoma to receive a personalized letter from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Sapulpa High School junior Heather Sparks, however, can say that she has.

Heather has been selected to serve on Superintendent Joy Hofmeister’s 2019-2020 Student Advisory Council. She is one of approximately 70 students chosen.

“I am so proud of your varied accomplishments and am eager to hear your voice and perspective as we discuss topics relevant to not only our youth but also our State,” Hofmeister wrote in her email to Heather. “Your leadership and willingness to serve is of great value to your school, community, and state. You are an inspiration to many.”

Fortunately for Heather, she was near friends when she read the email and got to share the good news with them.

“I was in the back parking lot on my way to volleyball practice and I read the congratulations and I screamed and I jumped and I told everyone around me what I did,” she said. “State Superintendent Student Advisory Council. They’re like, ‘Wow, that’s a lotta words but good job, Heather!’”

The application she submitted asked her to identify a couple of issues facing Oklahoma teens today. Heather said drug and alcohol abuse, as well as an overall lack of effort, are two of the bigger issues.

“I think when I go there, and coming back, I’ll have learned new things about what I can bring to Sapulpa and try to change for our community,” said Heather. I want to make this the best place that it can be while I’m here.”



The council will meet twice during the second semester of this school year at the State Capitol to discuss topics such as bullying, career readiness, and school funding among others. The students, nominated by their district superintendents, hail from across Oklahoma and represent rural, urban and suburban schools of all sizes.

“It’s an awesome opportunity and I’m thankful to have gotten the opportunity to do this.”

Heather has another year of high school remaining but she already has her sights set on attending either the University of Oklahoma or the University of Arkansas in the fall of 2021 and study pre-med so she can, “do all the fun medicine stuff.”

This is the fifth year of Hofmeister’s Student Advisory Council.