Imagine yourself or your child working tirelessly for four years throughout high school to achieve the dream of any valedictorian: making the final send-off speech for students and their parents.

This is Isabelle (Isa) Breazu's dream that was cut short yesterday (May 15). Our principal, Mr. Jimmy Fisher, told Isa that she was no longer speaking at graduation because speaking roles would be given to student body leaders instead. His reasoning for this decision was that he was changing the ceremony proceedings to remove the traditional valedictorian and salutatorian speaking roles, giving these speaking roles to student body leaders to honor the fact that this is the first class to finish all four years at Seckinger High School. However, our salutatorian is still giving his speech. In fact, while Isa was informed that the salutatorian would be speaking as a member of GSLT, the salutatorian was informed that he would be speaking as the salutatorian. Additionally, in previous years, student body leaders have spoken alongside the valedictorian and salutatorian, rather than completely replacing the valedictorian.

This decision is highly unfair. We believe that Mr. Fisher informed Isa of this only a week before graduation to prevent any chance of the new speakers being changed. Isa had been preparing for this role for nearly a year and had already finished her speech. 

The actions of our school, Seckinger High School, are unacceptable and unfair. Please recognize that the opinions of students and parents in our community can be highly influential in asking for change. We ask that you stand with us in allowing both our valedictorian and salutatorian to speak at graduation, as it has always been at SKG. 

-Friends of Isa Breazu