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Castillo named Mercedes School Board President
Young leader confident about new position
MERCEDES — At age 21, Benjamin Castillo is the youngest of his peers to serve on the Mercedes Independent School District board.
Despite his youth, he has managed to earn the respect of his fellow board members and was named School Board President of the school board last month. Castillo said the position is a one-year term.
Cast-illo has been an active member of the board despite attending classes at University of Texas-Austin. Before being named president, Castillo served as the board secretary. Castillo, a 2006 graduate of Mercedes High School, said he's now ready for his new position.
"I was honored that they would trust me with that type of responsibility," he said. "It gives me an opportunity to prove myself."
Despite his youth, Castillo said his role on the school board has never caused him to be intimidated.
First elected to his post at age 19, Castillo's goal for the next school year is to continue to improve the quality of education offered by the Mercedes school district.
Castillo said his first order of business as president is to name a new superintendent-the district's fourth in less than five years.
Even though Castillo hasn't had much time to cherish his achievement, he doesn't mind the added pressure right away.
"We've had good presidents in the past," he said. "I've got big shoes to fill. I'm going to make sure to get things done in an effective and timely matter."
Castillo knows he'll have to be better prepared and stay on top of major issues in order to be an effective president.
Castillo said he'll depend on his good mentors, who have helped carry him in the first couple of years on the board.
"The guys one the board are very knowledgeable," Castillo said. "We actually work well together."
During the school year, Castillo flies from Austin to the Valley every weekend in order to attend the board meetings. Castillo said that won't be the case during the summer months taking a break from his studies.
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| Ok so his dad works at Progreso my bad. Either way he is still chillin with his sancha, during school hours in the school suv. I'm sure Progreso residents do not appreciate that. I do not need to be a school board member to be successful you a hole. And another thing, I do not need to achieve anything further as I already am successful. My law degree from Princeton certaintly speaks for itself. I doubt you are much more educated than me or even if you are at all. The fact of the matter is that most politicans, board members are crooked and this 21 year old will get there soon if he is not there already. |
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| honey - Jun 19, 2009 07:42:22 PM | Remove Comment |
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| I call this the Mexican syndrome. When a successful couple and offspring are in the lime light people tried to slandered their personal life. Maybe honey you should work hard to achieve their success. His father works in Progreso isd not Santa Maria. We are proud of this young man taking responsibilities’ at this age and taken the district to other level. We have had many board members elected and have not accomplished what this young man has for our children. Formal elected board members did not protect the community interest and followed along to allow the superintendent and architect to fail us and the children. But nobody wants to remember that not even the current board members were elected during that time and continue to serve. How sad at the expense of the children. |
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| tiger - Jun 18, 2009 06:23:00 PM | Remove Comment |
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| he is an illegitmate child. his dad is the superintendent for santa maria. he chills out with ben's mom who is still his sancha every single morning for hours in the school district suv during working hours. his dad must be paying his flights courtesy of the santa maria taxpayers! pitiful! |
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| honey - Jun 18, 2009 04:52:47 PM | Remove Comment |
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| who pays for the flights, "daddy", vendors,tax payers? |
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| turk 182 - Jun 17, 2009 03:51:04 PM | Remove Comment |
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| Poor guy I'll give him a year and he won't look 21, he will age. |
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| ha - Jun 16, 2009 04:38:53 PM | Remove Comment |
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| This young man is a real life example of a puppet on a string. |
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| Merced Born - Jun 16, 2009 04:34:38 PM | Remove Comment |
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| it is a title
everyone knows that most of the board bows down to churchill who is the puppet master |
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| taxpayer - Jun 16, 2009 02:47:58 PM | Remove Comment |
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| I smell a fall guy. |
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| lol - Jun 16, 2009 01:47:37 PM | Remove Comment |
