From high school senior to a key role in running the school district: That’s just what happened to Sean Sellers, 18, who last week became the youngest person ever elected to the school board at L’anse Creuse in Macomb County, Mich.
WWJ’s Sandra McNeill talked to the teen who will be sworn in next January after winning a seat on the seven-member board with 9,700 votes, beating out three other candidates. He and his family created lawn signs early on, and worked the polls all day on Election Day.
There are practical matters to handle – like buying suits and ties for board meetings. But first, there was the celebration. Mountain Dew and cake as he’s not old enough to pop champagne. “I’m very excited, I got to celebrate with some friends and family so it was a good time,” Sellers said, laughing.
“I will have to dress up and play the part,” Sellars added, saying his family gave him Kohl’s gift cards for new business wear.
In his new gear, Sellers, who is a freshman at Macomb Community College is ready to get to work, pushing for more money to go directly to students whose families are struggling.
He wants to allocate more money to student education and wants to make sure in-person school is safe and that online learning platforms are ready if coronavirus cases rise and in-person classrooms are shuttered.
Sellers said he came to his enthusiasm for education honestly. His mom is a first grade teacher in nearby Utica Schools who emphasized education is the “No. 1 priority.” Technically, he’s her boss, but don’t tell his mom. “She lets me know real quick who the real boss is.”
Down to business, specifically he’s “looking forward to making amendments to the budget,” he said, adding that he believes education should be in-person and that L’Anse Creuse is probably “the safest place you could go indoors now.”
There has not been a single transmission of coronavirus inside the school, he added, with about 70% of kids attending class in-person.
He’s well versed in the issues and statistics, as any listener can observe, but is he afraid of being taken seriously? A little bit.
“I think some people are going to have a hard time distinguishing between the student and the board member. On the contrary, my vote counts just as much as anyone else’s on the board does,” he said, adding that fellow board members will quickly learns that he’s serious about making changes.
“It’s go time,” he said.
The community has obviously embraced him, and his mission, with their vote.
“Great job Shane! So glad it happened for you … I knew it would when I saw that beautiful ad on 94 in the south end of the district !! Great job! Help bring back the pride of L’Anse Creuse!” Carrie Ryan wrote on Facebook.
This story was originally published by our Media Partner, WWJ Newsradio, 950
