Teen Advisory Board
Teens in the Driver Seat® is the nation’s first peer-to-peer safety program for young drivers, involving teenagers directly in developing and delivering driving safety messages. The goal of Teens in the Driver Seat® is to raise awareness of the top driving dangers for teens and prevent crashes involving young drivers. The program empowers teens to spread the word among their peers about deadly driving risks and encourage them to make smart choices while behind the wheel and as passengers. Teens in the Driver Seat® is committed to fighting the number-one killer of teenagers in America, but it can only succeed with the involvement and commitment of young people who are represented by the Teens in the Driver Seat® Teen Advisory Board.
TAB members are selected for the next year at the end of the previous school year. If you are interested in being involved, watch for nomination announcements.
Check out the TAB album on Facebook for snapshots of the board in action.
Meet the 2011-2012 Teen Advisory Board.
The board members:
- Provide insight on how to engage their peers and sustain their interest in Teens in the Driver Seat®
- Assist in organizing program-oriented events and activities
- Provide feedback, ideas and opinions on new program materials, safety messages, promotional items and related elements
- Participate in quarterly meetings
- Serve as ambassadors and leaders for Teens in the Driver Seat®
So who are the members?
Michael Caballero
Co-Chair
Creekview High School
Carrollton, Texas
Michael has strong leadership skills and is a part of his school’s Mock Trial team. He has been involved with student council since his freshman year and is currently serving as Treasurer. Michael wants to bring new, fresh ideas to Teens in the Driver Seat® by networking with other leaders across the state. He also plans to bring new ideas to his school and to share Creekview’s projects with other schools.
Michael describes himself as determined, passionate, committed, optimistic and a risk- taker.
D’Re Griffin
Co-Chair
Archer City High School
Wichita Falls, Texas
D’Re has volunteered at the North Texas State Hospital. He is on the student council and is currently serving as Parliamentarian. The Archer City student council has been very active in Teens in the Driver Seat® and they attended TDS FEST 2011 together. Since his brother’s car accident, D’Re has tried his hardest to keep his brother and other drivers safe.
D’Re describes himself as charismatic, witty, intelligent, caring and helpful.
Zaineb Algabban
Irvin High School
El Paso, Texas
Zaineb was co-chairman in the Against Reckless Driving committee in Oman. She has been on the student council since her freshmen year and served as class president her sophomore and junior years. She is committed to her work, and very passionate about helping others. Zaineb wants to be a part of the team that makes a difference in teens lives.
Zaineb describes herself as positive, hopeful, cheerful, helpful and committed.
Ryan Gomez
Bushland High School
Bushland, Texas
Ryan is a member of D-FY-IT Drug Free Youth in Texas and is also a member of “Random Acts of Kindness” group that does nice things for others to try to prevent bullying in our schools. He also volunteers with a group at his school that helps pack SNAK PAKS for the homeless students in our district. Ryan heard about Teens in the Driver Seat® from his friend and instantly knew he wanted to be a part of this group. He wants to make a difference and help others realize the dangers of distracted driving.
Ryan describes himself as artistic, humble, genuine, talented and honest.
D’Re Griffin
Archer City High School
Wichita Falls, Texas
D’Re has volunteered at the North Texas State Hospital. He is on the student council and is currently serving as Parliamentarian. The Archer City student council has been very active in Teens in the Driver Seat® and they attended TDS FEST 2011 together. Since his brother’s car accident, D’Re has tried his hardest to keep his brother and other drivers safe.
D’Re describes himself as charismatic, witty, intelligent, caring and helpful.
Cassie Henk
Bandera High School
Bandera, Texas
Cassie is a member of the National Junior Honor Society, the Bandera County Cowboy Capital Pet Assistance League, her Youth Group at Church, and plays volleyball and basketball. Cassie knows a lot about the Teens in the Driver Seat® program and she thinks it is cool. Cassie thinks teen driving safety is very important and she can add a lot of ideas and energy to the board.
Cassie describes herself as hard-working, caring, athletic, creative and fun.
Christina Jeong
Irvin High School
El Paso, Texas
Christina takes safe driving very seriously and has participated in “TDS Night” at her school. She is a very active member on her school’s student council and Class Council. She has participated in many events and volunteering opportunities such as “Gift to the Mountain” and “Gift to the River” where volunteers go to heavily polluted areas in El Paso and clean up as much as they can. She is also a member of the “El Paso Youth Council” under Mayor Cook. Along with these activities, instilled in Christina’s mind is “leave the campsite better then when you came” and so through Teens in the Driver Seat®, Christina wishes to leave the roads and teen accident statistics better than when she first saw them.
Christina describes herself as trustworthy, responsible, hard-working, optimistic and a leader.
Mindy Le
Garland High School
Garland, Texas
Mindy currently serves on the Teens in the Driver Seat® Committee for the Garland Youth Council. Mindy is also a member of the theatre department, International Thespian Society, varsity drill team and the Mesquite Community Theatre. Mindy has volunteered with the American Heart Association, Child Abuse Prevention Center, Texas CARES, March of Dimes, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, UNICEF and Legal Hospice of Texas. Mindy would like to hone her skills and apply it towards having a successful year of decreasing the number of teen crash deaths in order to reach the goal of motor vehicle car crashes no longer being the leading cause of death for teens in the United States.
Mindy describes herself as enthusiastic, integrity, eccentric, adventurous and persistent.
Denise Mayorga
Irvin High School
El Paso, Texas
Denise is involved with her student council and church youth group. She has learned that Teens in the Driver Seat® helps prevent teen deaths on the road. As a teen she wants to help others understand the risk they take when they get behind the wheel and hopefully get through to them. She wants to spread the message to her friends and family to help them change their ways as well.
Denise describes herself as active, humble, caring, strong-willed and honest.
Taylor Moseley
Lancaster High School
Lancaster, Texas
Taylor is a youth leader. She hosted a Pink-Out Volleyball Program to support the Susan G. Komen Foundation. She volunteers with the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, “Santa’s Little Helpers” and “Food for the Community.” Taylor wants to be able to have the chance to share her voice, gain more experiences and learn new things with Teens in the Driver Seat®. She wants to contribute to the cause of helping teens become more aware when driving and to surround herself with people who are motivated in helping teens, just as she is.
Taylor describes herself as outgoing, friendly, caring, a leader and a risk-taker.
Leela Rao
Memorial High School
Houston, Texas
Leela was involved with the Teens in the Driver Seat® – Junior High program. She is a member of the National Junior High Society and student council, where she is currently serving as president. Car safety has always been a huge part of Leela’s life and she thinks teaching other teens about the effects of poor decisions and automobiles will impact not only the teens, but everyone else on the road.
Leela describes herself as competitive, passionate, upbeat, dependable and a leader.
Jessica Santibanez
Naaman Forest High School
Garland, Texas
Jessica is a current member of Light Brigade at her school and the Garland Youth Council in her community. She is also on student council and is currently Vice President and will serve as President next year. Jessica encourages others to be informed about the many risks of driving in her school and in her community.
Jessica describes herself as determined, outgoing, responsible, reliable and dedicated.
Casey Trevino
Taft High School
Taft, Texas
Casey wants to help spread the word among her peers about deadly driving risks. She is a member of FCCLA, currently serving as Reporter, cheerleading and plays softball. Casey wants to help teens understand the importance of driving and what the consequences can be when it is taken for granted. Teens are the future of America, and Casey wants to help keep them safe and protected by spreading the word over the country.
Casey describes herself as funny, random, energetic, creative and a leader.
Jael Williams
Bronte High School
Bronte, Texas
Jael is secretary of the Teens in Action organization, historian of the student council and secretary of her class. Coming from a small community, they’ve lost several teens from making bad choices while driving and Jael wants to have a part in saving more teens lives. It’s her goal to help teens think more responsibly while driving. Jael would like to meet new people and bring ideas to the table for future Teens in the Driver Seat® activities.
Jael describes herself as smart, dependable, goal-oriented, creative and respectful.
Hailey Willis
Creekview High School
Carrollton, Texas
Hailey is on the student council and has raised money for Susan G. Komen. She helped out with the Teens in the Driver Seat® – TDS FEST 2011. Hailey loves to help out with important causes such as Teens in the Driver Seat®. She believes it’s good to make the community aware of this cause.
Hailey describes herself as imaginative, altruistic, energetic, loyal and philanthropic.