19-year-old UCF student runs for Seminole school board seat

Antonio Pizza, a 19-year-old University of Central Florida political science student and Hagerty High School graduate, announced his campaign on January 13 for the Seminole County School Board District 1 seat. His platform emphasizes academic rigor, improving attendance and boosting accountability to ensure students are genuinely learning rather than being pushed through the system.

Pizza framed his priorities around creating a “positive environment for academic and social growth,” and he said he is motivated by firsthand experience in Seminole County schools and a desire “to leave it better than I found it.” He cited leadership roles with UCF College Republicans, Young Americans for Liberty, the Order of the Arrow and the Boy Scouts of America, where he reached Eagle Scout rank, along with internships on several political campaigns.

The announcement marks an unusual entry into local politics by a candidate still in college. School board races shape curriculum choices, staffing priorities and budget allocations that affect classroom resources, extracurricular programs and long-term capital planning. For Seminole County residents, the contest will influence how the district balances academic expectations with attendance policies and student support services that can affect classroom outcomes and operational costs.

Pizza’s emphasis on attendance and accountability touches on two levers that school boards commonly use to influence performance: policy-setting at the district level and oversight of superintendent decisions on implementation. While a candidate’s campaign platform does not translate automatically into policy, a board member can prioritize funds and administrative attention toward interventions such as attendance monitoring, tutoring programs and teacher professional development that aim to raise proficiency and reduce remediation costs over time.

As a youthful candidate, Pizza may attract attention from voters seeking fresh perspectives and greater student representation in board deliberations. His work with campus groups and campaign internships suggests familiarity with political organizing, though incumbents and experienced candidates often point to governance experience and knowledge of district finance and state education law as advantages in school board responsibilities.

The timing of Pizza’s announcement ahead of the general election later this year gives voters months to evaluate how his priorities align with district performance data and budgetary realities. Seminole County residents will face decisions about which candidates can translate campaign promises into measurable gains in student learning and efficient use of local education dollars.

Our two cents? Pay attention to candidate forums and school board meetings, ask how each contender would measure progress on attendance and learning, and weigh whether proposed changes are backed by concrete plans that fit Seminole County’s classrooms and budgets.