SAN DIEGO — For the first time, the San Diego Unified School Board has a student member. Zachary Patterson made history at 16 years old last month when he was elected to represent more than 100,000 students.
“Being the first student, it will be an adventure to see where I go," said Patterson. "If we're leading the society of tomorrow, why not start today?"
Patterson started on his road to leadership back in the third grade. He served as room representative at Marie Curie Elementary School before becoming fourth grade vice president, where he posed for a picture with now San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher. In seventh grade, Patterson began working to create his now student board member role.
"I started by working with a secondary resource teacher from the district," Patterson said. "I emailed a board member, and from there, my project took off."
After thousands of students voted in the election online, Patterson won his most difficult job title yet.
"My job is to be the voice on behalf of the 105,000 plus students of our school district," said Patterson.
Not starting off slow, Patterson first plans to assemble a student advisory board of 15 members including middle and high school students to represent the board’s five districts.
Also the student rep for the San Diego Unified Council of PTA’s, Patterson was just at the state capitol last week with the California Association of Student Councils lobbying for implementation of cultural competency training, enacting student-to-teacher feedback training.
"I recognized there was a complete lack of connection between the board of education and the students it was serving," said Patterson. "You have teachers, principals and all the people in between before you actually get to us: the students. We are education. We're the reason the funds come in every single day. Our attendance actually matters."
This sophomore cross-country team runner at University City High School will serve alongside five paid school board members, although he won't be paid and won't get a vote that counts. That is something he would like to change and says he is currently working with State Assembly member Lorena Gonzalez’s Office to get a bill to get student board members an actual vote to move forward.
"Just because I’m younger, it doesn't mean I’m any less competent," said Patterson. "Actually, I would argue, I know better because I’m somebody who's actually experiencing it. Being away from education for 40 years is a big difference."
Patterson will be officially sworn into office during the San Diego Board of Education meeting on Dec. 10. This is only the political beginning for Patterson who plans to major in political science and then work for the government after college.
"One of my ultimate goals [is] possibly to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives," said Patterson.