YONKERS, NY — October 21, 2026 — With the new school year well underway, the new student trustees on the Yonkers Public Schools Board of Education approach their work with eagerness, optimism and a global perspective. 

“First, student voices matter,” said student trustee Riyanna De Guzman.  “Also, since Yonkers is so diverse, having a voice come from an immigrant student is a special moment.”

Riyanna is from the Philippines.  She grew up in Japan and came to Yonkers around 2019. At first, she struggled.

“I came in the middle of the year,” she said.  “I had a hard time with the cultural differences, but then the diversity brought curiosity to my culture and I was welcomed here.”

Fellow student trustee Abdulrahman Sadiq-Onilenla was born and raised in Nigeria.  His first language is Yoruba.  He started attending school in Yonkers in the third grade. 

“For me, the language gap was the first challenge,” he said.  “It was my teachers who made the difference— the way they accepted me.  They made me feel like I was a part of the community.”

Riyanna is a senior at Saunders Trades and Technical High School, majoring in Biomedical Technology.  She’s an honor student and the founder of the Saunders Medical Club.  Abdulrahman is a junior at Saunders, studying Electronic Computer Circuitry.  He’s president of the Coding Club and competes in Robotics. 

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano appointed Riyanna and Abdulrahman to serve as non-voting, ex-officio trustees of the Board of Education.  They attend meetings, participate in policy discussions and share the thoughts and concerns of fellow students.

“I think many students feel like they don’t have a voice,” Riyanna said.  “I want to show how my voice could improve the system that we have here.”

Abdulrahman added, “I think the most important thing is bridging the gap between administration and students.  I think a lot of times the administration makes decisions and a lot of people don’t know why.  I think communication is key for understanding why we make certain decisions.” 

A perennial topic of concern is the budget gap and the fear that schools might be closed.  Abdulrahman has learned about the process.

“The first thing I learned is, these decisions aren’t as simple as they might seem from the outside,” he said.  “When you’re on the outside looking in, you think these decisions are made quickly.  These are decisions that are discussed and debated.  They talk about the ramification… A lot of the time, they’re forced to make a decision based on the requirements and what we need to happen.”

Having grown up in different countries, both student trustees have a global perspective that informs their understanding of different educational strategies and tools.  Board President Dr. Rosalba Corrado Del Vecchio, herself an immigrant from Italy, encourages the young trustees to speak up and share their thoughts and feelings. 

Abdulrahman noted, “At every meeting, the first thing they tell me is, ‘if you have any questions, just ask.’  Dr. Del Vecchio, in particular, has been extremely helpful in making sure that our voices are heard.”