Freshman political science major Antonio Pizza (left) listens to a lecture with freshman advertising and public relations major Tyler Silva at a history lecture given by Professor David Morton. This class provided Pizza with the perseverance and awareness that Morton emphasized as being instilled in all community work, Morton said.
Xiomaris Legarreta
With graduation still a few years away, 19-year-old UCF student Antonio Pizza isn’t waiting to launch his career. This semester, he announced his candidacy for Seminole County School Board District 1.
Pizza will run against Kristine Kraus, a longtime volunteer with Seminole County Public Schools, for the seat.
“I value the democratic process and respect anyone who chooses to step forward and participate in it,” Kraus said. “I look forward to running a campaign focused on my record of delivering for our schools and great opportunities for all students in Seminole County.”
Pizza, a recent graduate of Hagerty High School, is now a freshman political science major at UCF. He said he wants to improve local schools so students are more engaged in their education rather than being pushed through the system.
“I plan to phase out the COVID-19 era learning, redirect funds in the budget to programs to make places like school bathrooms safer, and to create distraction free learning environments where everyone can feel safe,” Pizza said.
For Pizza, engagement starts with limiting distractions and focusing on what matters most. In high school, he led several student organizations, including the Chess Club and the Black Student Union. He was also a member of five National Honor Societies and served as a student government senator.
“As humans, we are social creatures,” Pizza said. “We need to socialize with people, we need to engage with people and I think that students are losing out on the important aspect of talking to other people.”
At UCF, Pizza joined Young Americans for Liberty and serves as secretary of the UCF College Republicans. He is also active in Boy Scouts of America as a popcorn kernel and camp card chair, and works as a youth soccer coach on weekends.
Dr. David Morton, an adjunct professor in the film and history departments at UCF, said Pizza’s concerns about students being pushed through remedial programs reflect broader issues he has seen while teaching at both the college and secondary levels.
”I teach a 250 student class right now; He’s front row and center,” Morton said.
On Jan. 20, the Seminole County School Board announced plans to expand the use of artificial intelligence tools in schools. Pizza said AI can be useful but should not replace student effort, adding that overreliance on technology can lead to distraction.
“Teachers are dedicating so much time to teach our youth and all we’re doing is encouraging people to go on their phones,” Pizza said.
While professors at UCF cannot endorse a student’s candidacy, Morton said he can “certainly endorse a student’s initiative, effort and concern.”
Kat Arnott, freshman forensic science major, is a former classmate of Pizza’s from Hagerty High School. Arnott said Pizza has always stood out for his determination and willingness to support others.
“I think that determination and your compassion, especially toward the school system, are super important and I think those are things that Antonio definitely has,” Arnott said.
Pizza ran for student government president nine times in high school. Though he was not elected, he said, he continued to take on leadership roles in student organizations.
“I can’t live in the past, I have to keep moving forward but what I can do is reflect on it and decide how I can go forth in my life and be a better person,” Pizza said.
Morton said that kind of perseverance reflects the civic engagement he encourages in his U.S. history course.
”The last question I ask in my course is how they can apply lessons in my class as citizens and what Antonio is already doing — [and] he hasn’t even finished the course — is a perfect example of what I would want to see more of my students do,” Morton said.