Ben Press addresses the school board about high school start times on Sept. 19, 2014. Photo contributed
Ben Press, a junior at James Madison High School in Vienna, was elected as student representative to the Fairfax County School Board on Feb. 12. He will take over from Harris LaTeef from Langley High School on July 1.
Press said that he wants to bring the issues of mental wellness and workload to the board. “We really have to hold [ourselves] accountable for the work we assign students,” he said.
Press’ focus stemmed from his work with Fairfax County Public School’s School Health Advisory Committee and the Student Advisory Council, where he worked on a wellness policy for students and staff.
He was always interested in being a leader. He has been active in scouting leadership with his Life Scout Troop 976 in Vienna and is working towards becoming an Eagle Scout. Press was also a mentor at Cunningham Park Elementary School and has been the student representative to the Fairfax County Council of PTA. His father, Dan, said in an email that his appointment to the school board is a “great opportunity…to further develop his abilities as a servant leader.”
Press said that it would be interesting to make the balance between his duties to the school board, which may involve many meetings, and his school work. But even with his new role, “School work should always be number one,” he said.
The student representative position is a non-voting, one-year term. Press will be the 45th student representative to the 12-member school board, serving over 187,000 students in Fairfax County.
“I’m honored and humbled by the trust put in me, and I hope to bring attention to issues students feel are important,” said Press.