Todd Rucci cares deeply and leads with his heart.

That type of commitment produces actions that ultimately lead to service. And what Rucci chooses to serve are his community and education and children.

Rucci has been a school board member in the Warwick School District for 14 years, and he is currently president of the nine-member board. It's a volunteer position and an elected position, and there's a lot more to it than simply attending a couple of meetings a month.

"My wife and I grew up in the sports world, and we've always tried to help the team," said Rucci. "We've always taken the approach, 'You get in and help, or you keep your mouth shut.' I just want to do everything I can to help. My kids had an amazing experience in the Warwick School District, and that doesn't happen everywhere. It's personal to me. I want to help."

School board members like Rucci are concerned citizens, community members whose most important role may be to hire a district's superintendent, who in turn hires other administrators and teachers. Ultimately, school board members rely on the people they put in charge to help guide them as they make decisions that will affect the direction of the school district.

They hire education experts and then defer to that expertise. It's a unique relationship that produces an interesting dynamic.

"I think the role of school board members sometimes gets confused," said Rucci. "In short, we hire a superintendent and work on policies that guide the school district and where it goes. Each board is different. We operate as a group, not as individuals. But the superintendent and the administration run the district."

Like his fellow school board members, Rucci holds down a day job. Rucci serves as the director of government relations for PAP Technologies.

"You have to have some ambition and motivation to (be a member of the school board)," said Rucci. "It's real simple. Every decision we make comes down to, 'Is it going to make our students at Warwick better?' If it does, then let's keep talking about it."

"Honestly, I think we (board members) interact very well," Rucci added. "When we question each other, it's not a bad thing. I have always encouraged working with different people with different views. Sometimes it gets a little heated, but that's OK. We have a lot of great things going on, and we want to represent the community."

The Warwick School District has always played a major role in the Lititz community.

"The Warwick School District is in the people-building business," said Rucci. "Challenges aren't a negative to me. That's the whole reason we're here. There are challenges at Warwick that make us better. It's a continuation of self-reflection, as a board and a school district."

"The people here are strong. They invest," concluded Rucci. "We have active community members who have pride in Warwick. When you walk the streets of Lititz, Warwick is everywhere. Our students are engaged in the community."