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After serving two one-year terms as the student member of the Prince George's school board, Edward Burroughs III, is hoping to continue his fight for the student voice by running for a four-year term on the board.

Burroughs, 17, of Temple Hills, filed May 24 for the District 8 school board seat, which represents the Fort Washington, Oxon Hill and Camp Springs areas, and said his experience as the student board member will give him a unique perspective.

"Our district cannot afford for someone to come in and play catch-up," Burroughs said. "I'll be able to say, this is what we need do, and this how we need to prepare students for college."

Burroughs, a 2010 graduate of Crossland High School in Temple Hills, will be attending Bowie State University in the fall, majoring in education policy while continuing to live at home.

Since he recently graduated, Burroughs said he will be able to gauge whether the school system's curriculum and high school graduation requirements sufficiently prepare college-bound students.

"We try to prepare our students to be college- and workforce-ready," Burroughs said. "But, most of our school board members haven't been in high school for decades. I'll know from experience what we need to work on."

Along with increasing high school rigor, Burroughs said he would fight to make sure students are aware of their options at vocational schools.

Over his two-term tenure, Burroughs said he built a unique relationship with students and teachers, where all parties felt comfortable approaching him with concerns.

"The school system has a brick wall up," he said, adding that there are many nonprofits, organizations and businesses that want to get involved in the school but are not able to get in contact with school system employees.

Burroughs, who will turn 18 in August — state law requires that a candidate be 18 by the date of the election — also has three younger siblings in county public schools, which he said will help him stay in touch with issues at all levels of education.

As for his age, Burroughs said he is not worried about the criticism, because he has the necessary experience on the school board.

The primary election will be held Sept. 14.

Edward Burroughs III

-Residence: Camp Springs

-Age: 17

-Time in county: 17 years

-Birthplace: Washington, D.C.

-Occupation: Student

-Education: High school

-Community associations: Student mentor at Thurgood Marshall Middle School in Temple Hills, Isaac Gourdine Middle School in Fort Washington and Hillcrest Heights Elementary School in Temple Hills; former member of the Crossland High School Parent Teacher Student Association; former Tae Kwon Do instructor at Hillcrest Heights Community Center

-Professional associations: Prince George's County Board of Education's student member, 2008-2010; education liaison for state Sen. Anthony Muse, 2009-2010; member of Prince George's County Disability Issues Advisory Board; member of the county board of education's Secondary School Reform Committee and the Board Policy Review Community

-Family: Single

-E-mail: edward.burroughs@

gmail.com

-Website: www.edward

burroughs.com