At 17, Oceanside High School senior James Beyrer is already thinking about how he can make his community a better place — and this year, he has a seat at the table to help make it happen.
A lifelong Oceanside resident, Beyrer serves as president of the high school’s student government. He also represents the student body at Board of Education meetings, where he shares updates from the high school and weighs in on issues before the board.
For Beyrer, the position is about more than attending meetings. It is an opportunity to advocate for students across the district and ensure their experiences are represented.
“The big thing for me is giving back to my community and advocating for my peers,” Beyrer said. “This position allows me to make myself a better communicator with others and allow myself to be more confident in the things I do and decisions I make.”
Beyrer has been involved in a variety of activities throughout his time at OHS, including student government, marching band, jazz band and Thespians. He is also a Boy Scout and is working toward earning his Eagle Scout rank.
His interest in civic involvement extends beyond his high school years. Beyrer said he plans to major in political science after graduation and hopes to pursue a career in politics.
While Beyrer represents the high school’s 1,600 students, he also views his role as an opportunity to advocate for students throughout the district.
“I serve as the president of 1,600 kids at Oceanside High School, but then I represent over 5,500 kids throughout the district,” he said.
One of his priorities this year is strengthening connections with students at every grade level.
Beyrer and other members of the student government plan to visit elementary schools and meet with student government groups there, as well as with middle school students.
“The biggest thing for me is to actually make connections with the students,” he said. “We get an understanding of what goes on in each school, with the programs they have and the services they provide. I learn to fully understand how they work and how I can do a better job advocating for them on the district level.”
The idea grew in part from a conference for student board representatives from across Nassau County, where Beyrer learned more about leadership, governance and student advocacy.
“It was really where we truly learned how to advocate and how to use our position to the best of our abilities,” he said.
Beyrer is also focused on increasing student involvement at Oceanside High School.
One area he hopes to strengthen is Battle of the Classes, an in-school competition that brings students together across grade levels. Beyrer noted that participation significantly declined following the pandemic, and rebuilding student involvement has remained a priority for student leaders.
As student representative, Beyrer is part of a role that has become formalized across New York. A state law that took effect July 1, 2025, requires public school districts with high school grades and BOCES to include at least one ex-officio student representative. Though student representatives do not have voting rights or access to executive sessions, they participate in board discussions and provide student perspectives.
Oceanside had already embraced the concept before the state requirement took effect, according to Superintendent Phyllis Harrington.
“For years we would have students come to the microphone and speak on different occasions,” Harrington said. “We always believed in student voice.”
Harrington said hearing directly from students can provide a perspective that adults cannot replicate.
“Having students speak of the things going on in their schools is so much more powerful and meaningful than having any adult doing the same,” she said.
The district chose to have the president of the high school student government serve as the student representative, Harrington said. Students from other schools also have opportunities to speak at board meetings throughout the year, allowing the board to hear from student councils across the district.
For Harrington, the value of having students involved is not limited to what they can tell the board.
“Being in front of a live and recorded audience, that alone is a skill set that he will take with him for the rest of his future career decisions,” she said. “I also think he will get a broader understanding of governance and the power of decisions that are made by a board on behalf of the entire community.”
Beyrer said that has already been one of the most enlightening aspects of the position. Although he had attended board meetings in the past, sitting through meetings as a student representative has given him a different perspective on how the district operates.
“What I’ve learned is that the Board of Education — although it seemed to be this big, scary thing because of the power they have and control of those school districts — it really isn’t that big and scary,” Beyrer said. “They are simply trying to do the best they can for their students and staff. It’s an eye-opening experience.”
As he continues through his senior year, Beyrer said he wants to remain someone that classmates feel comfortable approaching with their concerns and ideas.
“I take great pride in knowing that I’m the familiar face for everybody at the high school,” he said.
For Beyrer, that familiarity comes with a responsibility to listen, communicate and work toward changes that can benefit student throughout the district.
“I will put my head down and I will work to try to get done whatever has to get done in order to be beneficial for those people that attend the schools and for their future generations that go through Oceanside,” he said.
