Montgomery Blair High School junior Sebastian Johnson has been elected student member of the Board of Education for 2005-2006.

Johnson was chosen by 79 percent of the secondary students who cast ballots in the April 27 election, conducted by the Montgomery County Region of the Maryland Association of Student Councils. The overall voter turnout was 83 percent (62,724 students).

All high schools and middle schools submitted election results, along with several special schools and alternative programs.

His opponent, Nadia Sicard, is a junior at John F. Kennedy High School.

Johnson will begin his term as the 28th student member of the Board on July 1. He currently is SGA president at Blair, chair of the Montgomery County Region State Lobbying Committee, and legislative trainer with the Maryland Association of Student Councils.

Johnson hopes to expand the role of the student Board member to include more advocacy on behalf of students, including communicating not only with students but also with community leaders, organizations, and student governments in other counties.