Youngest Editor in Orinda Creates Wagner Ranch Campus Newspaper

    Whoever says legacy news print is dying, has it all wrong. Meet 10-year-old Shane Zuzack, who started a campus newspaper called Wagner Ranch Times, because “there was no student paper at our school.”
    The Gen-Alpha from Orinda saw a need and filled it.
    A year ago this month, as a fourth grader, he went to his school principal, Eric Acosta-Verprauskus, to pitch his bright idea of starting a campus paper.
    Inspiring 13 students to join his media crusade, Shane is editor-in-chief of the six-page publication, reviewed first by the principal, then printed on 8.5” by 11” paper and distributed throughout campus, 50 copies each month.
    His teacher Kashmira Behr is beginning to work with the news team to help facilitate and streamline things as the team continues to grow, but for the most part, it’s a student-run paper.
    “Our slogan is ‘For Kids By Kids’ and our goal is to put out news to the kids at Wagner Ranch,” said Shane, who added that he spends one to two hours each week, working on the paper.
    His mother, Bryce Zuzack, was not surprised by her son’s idea to start a publication.
    “He has always been a kid with big ideas,” said Bryce. “Sometimes they are so big that they are not attainable – like building a gondola to scale the steep hill in our backyard, starting a food truck or running his own summer camp for kids in our backyard.”
    Bryce added, “But starting a school paper was an idea he had, that he just ran with and developed all on his own. We supported and encouraged him, but the idea and execution was all him. We are so grateful to Wagner Ranch and especially Principal Acosta-Verprauskus for supporting Shane in this endeavor.”
    “My favorite articles are the ones in which staff and students are interviewed. It is always wonderful to learn more about our community members,” Acosta-Verprauskus said. “I was impressed that Shane had this unique idea and I thought it would be a very welcome addition to our school.”
    He also admires all the hard work the kids put into each issue.
    “Shane and his collaborators have created an engaging and well-received newspaper published monthly,” said Acosta-Verprauskus. “It takes collaboration and vision to meet that self-imposed deadline monthly, and they have been able to do so regularly.”
    Shane said the newspaper receives positive responses from faculty and his peers.
    “They are all really proud of me, and my friends think it’s pretty cool, too,” said Shane. His career goals are to be a pilot or police officer, although he would love to write books in his spare time.
    Shane’s parents are also proud. Bryce is a full-time mom and his father, Aaron Zuzack, is a real estate developer, who grew up in Orinda and went to Glorietta, OIS and Miramonte High School.
    “We are beyond proud of Shane. He is an entrepreneur at heart,” said Bryce. “He is always looking to start something or build something and he always dreams big. I think the newspaper started as a way to find focus during the school lunch break and a way to connect with his peers. Shane loves to be a leader, and the newspaper is the first of what I believe will be many entrepreneurial projects, as Shane has a wide variety of interests.”
    Bryce added that his sister Kyla, who is seven years old and in the second grade, “enjoys reading Shane’s paper, but she has many interests all her own.”
    Acosta-Verprauskus sees the challenges that go into each issue.
    “I’ve just been impressed with Shane’s fortitude in moving the newspaper forward,” he said. “He has surmounted hurdles and maintained a steady and engaging publication. He has done this in collaboration with his peers. Nice work, Shane!”
    In addition to his role as editor, Shane also writes stories and copy edits the articles. Looking forward, he’s optimistic for the future of the Wagner Ranch Times.
    “I’m hopeful that when I leave,” he said, “this newspaper will continue.”