Safe Schools

High Standards

Strong Education

Parent Partnership

Paul Seitz was elected to the Rancho Santa Fe School District Board of Trustees in 2022 and currently serves as Board Clerk.

 

Paul and his family were drawn to Rancho Santa Fe more than a decade ago by its small-town character, history, sense of community and R. Roger Rowe School. After considering other educational options for their daughter, they chose Rowe because of its combination of strong academics, character development, respect, personal responsibility and the extraordinary involvement of its families. Their daughter began kindergarten at R. Roger Rowe in 2017.

 

Long before joining the School Board, Paul learned the importance of preparation, teamwork and accountability. Growing up in the South Lake Tahoe area, sports and the outdoors taught him that excellence requires commitment and discipline. After high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps, proudly serving for eight years from 1996 to 2004 and attaining the rank of Sergeant. His service included leadership responsibilities involving Marines from many different backgrounds and reinforced principles he continues to value today: listen carefully, prepare thoroughly, build strong teams and remain focused on the mission.

 

After leaving the Marines, Paul spent several years working internationally as a contractor. In 2007, he discovered another passion working with and training horses. Today, he owns and operates Osuna Valley Stock Farm, an historic ranch in the Covenant, where he boards, trains and shows horses while helping preserve Rancho Santa Fe’s equestrian heritage.

 

Since joining the Board in 2022, Paul has participated in decisions affecting nearly every area of the district.

 

During his first term, R. Roger Rowe has continued developing advanced, honors and accelerated mathematics pathways, adopted updated mathematics curriculum, reviewed English Language Arts programming, implemented literacy screening and moved forward with additional curriculum updates. The district also adopted a new mission and vision and developed a Portrait of a Learner to help define the academic and personal qualities it hopes to develop in students.

 

In 2026, R. Roger Rowe Middle School was named a California Distinguished School by the California Department of Education, recognizing strong schoolwide performance.

 

The district has also invested in technology, classrooms, campus facilities and student programs while navigating an important leadership transition. In 2024, the Board selected former R. Roger Rowe principal Kim Pinkerton to return to Rancho Santa Fe as Superintendent.

 

One of Paul’s strongest areas of focus throughout his Board service has been campus safety and security.

 

During his term, district policies were strengthened to require employees to wear visible identification badges on campus. Visitor procedures were also strengthened so visitors are required to report to the front office, provide identification through the district’s visitor-management system and wear visible visitor credentials while on school grounds.

 

Volunteer screening has become more structured as well. Volunteers receive Megan’s Law clearance, while individuals who may work independently or consistently with students are subject to additional requirements including LiveScan fingerprinting.

 

Paul also advocated for greater Board-level attention to campus security and supported creation of a School Board Security and Safety Liaison. When the Board later voted to eliminate that position, Paul voted to retain it. The district has continued evaluating additional physical security measures, including fencing, controlled access points and ways to better separate visitors and outside activities from the instructional campus.

 

Paul’s approach to school security is simple: the district should know who is on campus, why they are there and whether they are authorized to be around students.

 

Paul has also remained focused on preserving the traditions and identity of Rancho Santa Fe. During the district’s 2026 centennial-logo redesign, he proposed incorporating the American flag into the new logo, which the Board ultimately approved.

 

As Paul completes his first four-year term, his Board service has coincided with academic and curriculum changes, strengthened campus-security procedures, new district leadership, technology and facilities investment and statewide recognition for R. Roger Rowe Middle School.

 

Through it all, Paul continues to bring the same principles that have guided him throughout his life: preparation, accountability, teamwork, service and a commitment to the Rancho Santa Fe community.