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Where I stand
on the  issues
High Expectations for All Students
MCPS leadership has recognized that holding high academic expectations
for all students is vital to prepare our children for future success
in a global marketplace. I believe that this mission has only begun,
and I am working hard to see that all of our children enjoy the
opportunities to achieve their greatest potential through a continuous
improvement process at MCPS that examines student achievement outcomes,
curriculum content, professional development, and the school improvement
process. I believe in providing opportunities for all students to
become productive, contributing adults in society.
Supporting a Sustainable Learning Environment
for Staff, Teachers, Students and Families
With ever-increasing expectations, comes the responsibility to provide
for an educational environment that respects the needs of its staff
and teachers, and its students and their families. I support improvements
in MCPS that will strengthen the capacity of our principals and
staff to lead our schools toward improved performance and our communities
toward a culture that values of education. I support improvements
that will increase opportunities for teachers’ professional
development and provide them with the time to focus on teaching,
and not only testing. I support improving MCPS culture of respect
for the diversity of student needs and the role of families as full
partners in education.
Elementary School Issues
School readiness is vitally important to future educational achievement.
Under Dr. Weast’s leadership, MCPS has led the way in establishing
all-day Kindergarten and reducing class sizes during the critical
elementary years. I support piloting an all-day preschool program
to discover if the public investment will result in the improved
outcomes we all desire. I support continued improvement in reading
and math and increasing language immersion programs so that more
children achieve the multiple language skills that will be important
for their future success in the world.
Middle School Issues
Like the middle child in a family, too often we have left middle
schools and middle school instruction as an afterthought and ended
up trying to make students fit into a structure that doesn’t
serve their developmental needs and a curriculum that does not link
learning from elementary school to high school as well as it should.
I support the MCPS middle school reform initiative and look forward
to reviewing the results of expert study and community input on
this process. I support extended-day learning opportunities for
middle school students and facilitating more after-school programs.
I support enhancing the qualifications of teachers in middle school
and the leadership of staff that respects and loves the challenges
of young adolescents.
High School Issues
The success of our high school students reflects directly on the
strength of our entire public education system. As a county and
as taxpayers, we cannot afford for a single student to drop out.
We cannot afford for students to graduate with no place to go. I
support smaller learning communities within large schools so students
don’t fall through the cracks and drop out or tune out. I
support strengthening our counseling staff and establishing career
centers in every high school cluster that address the full range
of work and higher learning options for our students. I support
working closely with professional groups and business leaders to
make sure that our students are ready for a place in the local and
the global workforce and economies.
Parent Engagement
Our teachers and our schools cannot insure excellence for all students
without an authentic partnership with parents and families. Our
schools should welcome and support the rich variety of ways that
parents can and do support student achievement.
I support a parent community coordinator in every large elementary
school and middle school to help parents navigate the system.
I support sharing the use of simultaneous translation equipment
with schools and parents who need it to communicate.
I support continuing the practice of parent-teacher conferences
at middle school and high school and using technology to communicate
with parents before there is a crisis in their child’s education.
I support parents taking their role as full partners in the school
improvement process.
MCPS Accountability and Transparency
The expenditures for MCPS consume almost half of our county budget.
We owe it to taxpayers, whether they have children in the system
or not, to be fully accountable and transparent about how decisions
are made and how money is spent. I believe Dr. Weast when he says
the school budget is a moral document. As a member of the Board
of Education it is my duty to provide oversight of MCPS, and I take
that responsibility seriously. I support making our Board of Education
more effective in performing its responsibilities. I support open
meetings and allowing parents and community members to state their
concerns and make suggestions before a Board work session is held.
I believe that respectful criticism of the performance and decision-making
process of public institutions is every citizen’s responsibility
in a democracy.
Find out more
"I have been teaching for twelve years, and in three Maryland counties. On many occasions during that time, I have invited special guests to celebrate my students' achievements. In all these years, no member of the Board of Education has ever before accepted an invitation to address my students. I was astounded and thrilled that you were willing and able to join us. This sent a powerful message to our students and their families about how important the work we do here is, and how special these children are. It meant a tremendous amount to me personally, as well."
MCPS Reading Teacher
MCPS Reading Teacher
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