Sophomore tapped for statewide athletics committee

Albany High School sophomore Toussaint Santicola Jones has been chosen to be one of 14 new members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA).

Santicola Jones was among 61 student-athletes from around the state who vied for membership on the committee, which was developed to encourage and facilitate involvement of student athletes within NYSPHSAA.

A total of 22 students sit on the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, which is composed of a male and a female representative from each of the 11 sections of the state. Santicola Jones will represent Section II, which consists of some 79 public school districts in the greater Capital Region.

One of the primary goals of this year’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council is to create a mental-health initiative to benefit student-athletes confronted with mental-health issues.

The advisory council will meet via teleconference four times a year. Members also will collaborate in person at a statewide council summit in November in Syracuse.

The mission of the City School District of Albany is to work in partnership with our diverse community to engage every learner in a robust educational program designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for success. The district serves about 9,500 students in 18 elementary, middle and high schools. In addition to neighborhood schools, the district includes several magnet schools and programs, as well as other innovative academic opportunities for students, including four themed academies at Albany High School.