In this episode, we’re putting students at the center of the conversation. Ariena Thurairajah from Palos Verdes Peninsula USD and Daniel Perez from Paramount USD—both members of our L.A. County Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council—join L.A. County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Debra Duardo for a powerful discussion on what it’s really like to be a student today.

From navigating academic pressure and mental health to the growing impact of AI in the classroom, Ariena and Daniel share their honest perspectives on the challenges they face—and what meaningful support looks like. Despite recognizing the privileges within their districts, both students emphasize that equity is critical and their message is simple: every student, no matter their background, deserves access to opportunities and resources.

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About Let Me Add to That: An Education Podcast

Nearly 2 million students and 80 school districts make up the Los Angeles County education system – as you can imagine, the experiences, the success and the challenges vary from district to district as it does student to student. The Let Me Add to That Podcast, presented by the Los Angeles Office of Education will feature education experts including superintendents, administrators, teachers and students themselves who will highlight various hot topics that the county faces on a day-to-day basis. Let Me Add to That is titled and modeled after the inclusion of different perspectives, experiences and challenges, and new episodes will be released on the first Wednesday of every month.

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