Manchester Valley student named to State Board of Education

Manchester Valley High School junior Steven Priester has been appointed by Gov. Martin O'Malley as the student member of the State Board of Education for the 2014-2015 school year.

The appointment will be effective July 1, 2014.

Priester is already serving as student representative to the Board of Education of Carroll County.

He's the first student from Manchester Valley High to serve on the county school board - Manchester Valley opened in 2009 - and with the O'Malley appointment, he becomes the first Carroll student to serve on the statewide board.

The State Board of Education student member serves a one-year term during his or her senior year, and has limited voting rights. The current member is Christian T. Hodges, a senior at Arundel High School in Gambrills.

Priester is a member of the Manchester Valley High School Student Government Association and the School Improvement Team. He has been an Honor Roll student since 2006 and is a two-time recipient of the President's Award for Academic Excellence.He also plays lacrosse and participates on the school's debate team, Future Educators of America and Ski Club.

He is a member of the Varsity Marching Band and has been selected for All-County Band every year since 2010.

Virginia Harrison, president of the county's Board of Education, called Priester "an exceptional young man who has served us well as our student representative. I am really confident that he will do a great job representing Carroll County and all the students of Maryland."

"This is a tremendous opportunity for Steven and an honor for our school system," said County Superintendent Steve Guthrie.