PUSD welcomes Quincy High’s Nick Caiazzo as student rep to the school board
By Roni Java
Quincy Junior-Senior High School’s (QJSHS) Student Body President Nick Caiazzo was recognized for his leadership skills and sworn in Dec. 16 as a student representative to the school board.
Meeting by Zoom video teleconference, as it has throughout the COVID-19 coronavirus response for public health and safety, the Plumas Unified School District’s (PUSD) Governing Board of Trustees welcomed Caiazzo, a senior, to his new post as Quincy High’s student voice on the board.
PUSD School Board President Leslie Edlund administered the oath of office. Trustees Joleen Cline, Dave Keller, JoDee Read and Traci Holt, clerk of the board, were also logged on remotely to congratulate the student representative. Caiazzo will serve for the 2020-21 school year.
“I was excited to see your name on here, Nick,” Trustee Edlund said with a smile. “So welcome and thanks for serving on the board.”
QJSHS Principal Tom Brown also congratulated the exemplary scholar and student athlete and said he has enjoyed getting to know Nick over the last few months.
“Nick’s teachers speak very highly of him throughout our school,” Brown told the trustees. “He offers a fine example of student leadership. Nick is known on campus and in the community for being a kind young man, caring and empathetic, someone who looks out for others.”
Brown characterized Nick as an outstanding leader among his peers, someone who has been of service and especially helpful to his classmates and school personnel over the past year.
“Through this entire COVID-19 experience, Nick has exemplified nothing but the top level of leadership for our school,” the principal explained. “He’s there for others. He is involved in the classrooms, always active and engaged.”
Principal Brown was welcomed to the iconic Quincy campus earlier this year when he assumed administration of the junior and senior high school on Main Street. Meeting with Nick about student needs has proven to be immensely helpful, Brown added.
“When I’ve had conversations with our team and teachers, and met with Nick as our student body president, he’s right there about what direction to take our school,” the principal said.
He added that the senior is respected for building a sense of belonging at Quincy High, even under distance learning challenges.
“Nick has represented our school at the highest level during this pandemic,” Principal Brown acknowledged. “In classes, I hear Nick speaking out, engaged in conversations. He is always looking out for others. Our school is getting engaged; students are invested in their education. It’s working and this couldn’t happen without Nick’s student leadership.”
Brown commented about teachers and staff being able to depend on capable students encouraging one another and staying strong in their studies, especially at this time.
“Student leadership is really important to any school and during this time, both inside and outside of a classroom, our students need a positive leader like Nick,” the administrator concurred. “And that’s who Nick is.”
The principal concluded his remarks to the school board members and district leadership by saying, “I know our school cannot be more proud of Nick, having him as our representative to the board. He embodies all of the qualities necessary in a student leader and we know he’s going to do great things in the years to come. So congratulations, Nick. Thank you.”
