(2/2022) Recently, I was talking to a friend who has twins in second grade. I told her what a great mother she is, as I have many times. She has managed to work full time while helping her kids get through the pandemic. She also shared that one of the twins has fallen behind almost a grade level in reading. She was understandably emotional. Like other parents I’ve talked to, she sounded very tired and uncertain of what her children’s education would look like in the future.

I’m running for County Council At-Large to make sure every student in Frederick County Public Schools can realize their potential and achieve their highest educational goals. Years of underfunding, made worse by the pandemic, have cost students the best education we should be able to deliver. Parents and caregivers of students in Frederick County need strong leadership and the dedicated resources to restore our public school system, to address learning losses, and strive for excellence for all students again.

What is the role for the County Council in this process? I’m not running for County Executive or to be on the Board of Education. As your Council Member, I will vote for Frederick County to consistently pass our county share of necessary education funding to support pandemic recovery. These and other future investments will help to provide competitive education in Frederick County. The bare minimum amount required by law can’t address immediate and longer-term needs. We risk students coming out not as prepared as they should be when they enter the workforce.

In response to increasing funding for students and teachers, I’ve heard some say we do okay in Frederick County, and that we have a couple of excellent high schools where some students are able to get into some top universities. That standard leaves most students worse off. Students in all county high schools should have access to highly rigorous college preparation, if that’s what they choose. One of the most exciting parts of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future law is overdue funding for Career and Technology Education (CTE). Not every road to success goes through college. Most of today’s skilled trade jobs have highly technical training that evolves rapidly. An apprenticeship is as valuable as a college internship.

My son took the bus to the Career and Technology Center when he was a student at Tuscarora High School. He would sit up in front and talk with the bus driver every day. As a Special Education student with autism, it was hard for him to make friends. So many members of the FCPS support staff made school a friendlier place for him, and they’ll probably never know what a difference they made. Bus drivers, cafeteria staff, Special Education and classroom aides, custodial staff, and all support positions should be recognized for their important roles with additional training opportunities and competitive pay.

I look forward to sharing more ideas on education and other local issues in the months ahead. If you would like to know more about my campaign or like to volunteer, please visit knapp4countycouncil.com.