In the Tuscarora school district, more than 2,000 students are represented by a school board made up entirely of adults who are far removed from the classroom. For his Capstone project, Devin Rotz ’25 dedicated himself to challenging the local status quo by running for office.
Located in Franklin County, PA, the Tuscarora School District provides summer programs, tutoring initiatives, technology integration, and the management of general education across the district. The responsibility of these projects falls into the hands of the school board members. But there’s one significant difference between these members and the students they represent: their age.
Rotz’s election would bring a youthful perspective to school board discussions. “I am running for the school board because we need a student voice. In an ever-changing education system, it’s more important now than ever to have a student voice representing the current issues facing us,” he said.
Highlighting the need for new perspectives, Rotz added, “Some people in the community are exhausted with the same rhetoric [used repeatedly] from our school board members.”
Rotz has clear goals for the board. He noted: “transparency, common-sense spending, better support for faculty and staff, and ensuring our facilities are future-ready.” These are the core principles by which Rotz is guiding his campaign.
To maximize his chances at making it through the primaries, Rotz chose to cross-file, putting his name on both the Democratic and Republican primary ballots. This means he has already won a spot on the Democratic ballot for the November election. However, in an area that leans heavily conservative, Rotz’s chances of overall victory are limited if his name is affiliated with the Democratic Party, which is why he is still fighting for votes among Republicans.
On the Republican primary ballot, Rotz has four opponents, three who currently serve on the board.
Though it may appear ambitious, Rotz’s goal is within reach. The election has four spots up for grabs. With only five candidates, Rotz has a good chance. Considering that Rotz is the only youth candidate (besides Mr. Hawbaker), he is a standout.
“I am optimistic that I have a good chance of winning. I hope that voters will want a fresh and young perspective on the school board.” Rotz said. “In our local elections, people don’t have to put themselves out there because no one runs for office. I am having as many conversations and interactions as I can utilize social media.” Rotz believes this may very well push him into a much-needed victory for Franklin County.
Rotz has had this vision for quite some time, agreed both Director of Capstones John David Bennett and Director of Experiential Programs Emily Parsons. “Devin has been talking to me about running for office for the past few years,” said Parsons. “I knew that he was interested in pursuing a local elected position last year, but his decision to run for school board was an awesome surprise this fall!”
“I love it when students do work in any capstone class that they’ll carry with them well beyond the classroom,” said Bennett. Devin’s campaign embodies the opportunities that students are given through Capstone and is an example of making the most out of their senior project.
A Rotz victory in the polls could be revolutionary for the school board and the community it serves. If the purpose of a school board is to represent and serve student interests, then meaningful representation must include the voices of young people.