There will be new faces on the Board of Education, after November’s election.
At last week’s first meeting of the 2025-26 school year, there already was one.
Anwara Olasewere joined the BOE as one of 2 Staples High School student representatives. The junior joins Souleye Kebe, a senior beginning his second year.
Though the 2 students cannot vote, they participate in discussions. Last year, Board members found their insights particularly important in areas like the proposed cellphone ban, and a new master schedule.
Anwara moved to Westport at 4 from St. Louis, for her mother’s job with MasterCard. She attended Long Lots Elementary and Bedford Middle School, before Staples.
A member of the Westport Youth Commission, Staples Student Council, Teen Awareness Group and several honor societies, she is perhaps best known as a swimmer. A sprinter (50 and 100 free) for Chelsea Piers in Stamford, she spends 15 hours a week in the pool — plus more time in the weight room. (One of her 2 sisters, Annam, who graduated in June from Staples, now swims at Stanford University.)
Anwara Olasewere
Anwara sees the Board of Ed as a natural extension of her work with Staples’ Student Council.
In her application video and subsequent interview with current members, she stressed her desire to connect the high school with the board, and to help current students.
“I’ve never been on a board before,” she notes. “I want to learn more about leadership.”
Her friends are excited to actually know a member of the Board of Education. She hopes to educate them — and many other Staples students — about it.
“They know there is a Board of Ed,” she says. “But they don’t know a lot about it.”
Board chair Lee Goldstein looks forward to working with Anwara.
“We’re in our third year of student representatives participation on our goard, and each of them has exceeded all our expectations,” she says.
“Anwara impressed us with her thoughtfulness and ability to see issues from multiple perspectives. We are excited to welcome her.”
Souleye Kebe, Westport’s other Board of Education student representative.
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So proud of Anwara! I’ve known her since kindergarten and always knew she would be part of something big. What an incredible opportunity to share her voice and leadership on the BOE!