SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – As the general election approaches, a youthful contender has emerged for a position on the Seminole County School Board. Antonio Pizza, a 19-year-old University of Central Florida student, is vying for the District 1 seat.

On Monday, Pizza officially launched his campaign, signaling his intention to bring fresh perspectives to the school board. Currently studying Political Science at UCF, Pizza is an alumnus of Hagerty High School, where he first developed his passion for education and public service.

His campaign is centered on the goal of enhancing the educational experience for students. Pizza advocates for a system that prioritizes genuine learning over merely advancing students through the academic process.

[BELOW: Threatening messages leave parents, Seminole school district flustered]

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“We cannot just pass students through the system to inflate our metrics,” he said. “We need to make sure that our students actually learn the material instead of cheating or gliding through remedial classes. We need to ensure that students are physically present in class, where they can learn and be held accountable for their work. We need to provide a positive environment for academic and social growth, free from distractions.”

Pizza also touted a variety of leadership positions, including among UCF College Republicans, Young Americans for Liberty, the Order of the Arrow, and Boy Scouts of America, the last of which he earned the ranked of Eagle Scout.

In addition, Pizza said he interned for other political campaigns, including Marco Rubio’s U.S. Senate run, Rachel Plakon’s state representative campaign, and Brady Duke’s Oviedo mayoral push.

“Since I graduated from Hagerty High School, I have on-the-ground experience with how Seminole County schools are currently run,” Pizza said. “I have seen what this school system has to offer, and I have built a strong love of this community and a desire to leave it better than I found it.”