July 3, 2001
Contact: Daniel Rollings
Gadsden Independent School Board Member
505/589-2442, pager: 915/578-4215 or
Walli Haley
Staff Writer, University Communications
915/747-5526
Like many UTEP students, 21-year-old Daniel Rollings believes in serving his community. But Rollings is doing more than simple volunteer work.
The criminal justice junior ran against four other candidates to be elected school board member in Gadsden, New Mexico. He won by a landslide.
The youngest person ever to be elected as school board member in the Gadsden Independent School District, Rollings, who began his four-year term in March, also is believed to be the youngest person ever to have won a seat on a school board in the state of New Mexico.
As the youngest board member, Rollings brings a special perspective to each meeting.
"I bring the student perspective," he said. "I know the ins and outs and where our flaws were and what we can achieve."
Rollingsí interest in serving on a school board stems from his own experience as a student in the district. The scholar, who served as senior class president at Santa Teresa High School and graduated near the top of his class, found that college-level math posed some difficulty.
"Those inconsistencies shouldnít be there," he said. "Thereís a lack of communication about whatís required at one level and whatís offered in high school."
Rollings, who plans to attend law school after he graduates in 2003, decided the best way to remedy the situation was to run for school board member on the platform of aligning the school districtís curriculum with the goal of ensuring that Gadsden students are prepared to take on college-level work.
"We live in a lower-income school district and try to provide the most we can for our dollar and reach out to the community," said Rollings.
Rollingsí parents, who are both businesspersons, helped him win the election.
"My parents were instrumental," said Rollings. "My mom went door to door. My dad helped me make signs and put them out in the streets. Strong parental involvement is the key to success in any field."
Their hard work paid off. Rollings won more than 50 percent of the vote.
Already he and his fellow board members, who meet twice a month for about three hours, are making a difference. They have hired the districtís new superintendent, Ron Haugen, and are working to initiate policies to bolster student achievement.
"Itís a fine line between creating policy and not get into micro-management," Rollings said. "Weíre on the brink of a new horizon, but itís a hard position."
He urges other young people to enter the political arena.
"Our youth donít feel that they can be heard, and thatís not the case," he said. "Our laws are written so that you can participate in politics."
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