(4/2022) I am thrilled to announce my candidacy for the Board of Education in Frederick County in 2022. I unequivocally believe in our public education system and the educators who make it a safe and productive learning environment for our students. The last two school years demonstrated the critical importance of our schools to students and the greater community. The BOE must work with local and state officials to secure the resources necessary for students, educators, and staff to thrive. If elected, I will bring my collaborative approach and experience in educational advocacy, equity, and partnership development to the Board of Education.
My campaign priorities are simple, but solutions are likely to be complex requiring advocacy and teamwork. Our education system will always be as good as the people who make it work. As a BOE member, I will take long-term action in the budget process to ensure that all FCPS staff receive a full, comprehensive, and competitive salary and benefit structure. In light of the myriad challenges facing our students and community, sufficient resources must be directed to school buildings and classrooms ensuring every student an opportunity to be nurtured, to be fed, to be inspired, and to go to school in an environment conducive to learning.
My vision for the future of FCPS is a system where all students access a well-rounded curriculum in a safe educational environment that meets their social, emotional, and unique learning needs. I will work tirelessly to help students graduate well-prepared for college, vocational programs, or military service with adequate preparation and support for whichever pathway they choose. FCPS in the future must be a school district where all staff members - cafeteria workers, bus drivers, custodial staff, classroom teachers, principals, curriculum specialists and everyone in between - are valued, appreciated, respected, and compensated comparable to other professionals. In this vision, FCPS centers the health and safety of all; equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging are core values for employees and students alike; and resources are invested to attract and retain educators who inspire a love of learning and thorough exploration of course content.
As an elected member of the Board of Education, I will be committed to ensuring that Board members and staff take a collaborative approach in setting direction and policy for FCPS. While the Board of Education sets a collective vision for FCPS, and holds the superintendent accountable to that vision, BOE members cannot work in isolation without educator and staff input. As a BOE member, I will include stakeholder feedback and input, recognizing that our educators and staff are professionally trained with expertise for programming and curriculum.
I will find and create opportunities to truly listen to the solutions and suggestions of FCPS staff during each meeting and process prior to making decisions. I believe that the primary mechanisms for BOE members to achieve the vision above include the hiring/evaluation process of the superintendent; the annual budgeting process; contract negotiations; and setting/revising policy. This vision will always be my north star. While it sounds simple and aspirational, the solutions and processes are complex and require a commitment to teamwork and action - both of which I possess.
