Frequently Asked Questions

I don’t have children in AACPS, why should I vote for you?

What is your position on community partnerships?

What are the funds that AACPS will lose this year?

I will serve as a steward of the AACPS budget and the use of funds.  Over the past several years, I have watched the AACPS budget process as a Parent, from the outside looking in.  As a parent and small business owner, it is an extraordinary increase in budget, and I understand that requires an increase in revenue to offset the cost.   I will do all I can to ensure that the same communities and people who are feeling the weight of inflation are not worse off because of unnecessary costs.  
As a mother of AACPS students, attorney, and wife of a small business owner, I will carefully monitor spending, look for opportunities for business efficiencies, seek opportunities for low or no-cost partnerships, and continually seek innovative business solutions to use our assets wisely.    While the BOE does not have direct authority to levy taxes, the AACPS budget, when approved by the County Council, has the means to directly taxpayers.  
Additionally, AACPS is the second largest employer in Anne Arundel County.  (Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation)

Essential. Partnerships provide the resources the AACPS community needs without having the recreate the solution. It’s the best use of our county’s assets to fill certain needs. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future provides for community schools, as a school and community partnership opportunity.

I would like to see the maintenance and growth of AACPS’ is a current community partnership development. AACPS currently is identifying and developing opportunities to include, expanding enclave training, job shadowing, and other career exposures. I support the continuation and building of this effort.

“Early-and-Often” Skill Development Partnerships: Exploring innovative “early and often” skill development opportunities through innovative and strategic business and community development partnerships. Explore opportunities with AACC, AAWDC, and others for youth ages 13 and up. This would provide career exposure for students who may be pursuing “non-traditional” pathways for post-graduation. Video game development, app development, cybersecurity, drone piloting, robotics, etc.

The federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Act, ESSER, is set to end soon. The final round of ESSER funds is set to end soon, and states must commit the funds by September 2024.

In Maryland, ESSER funds accounted for approximately 6.24% of total state education revenue from the prior year. Most financial forecasts calculate the risk to MD as low in approaching a financial cliff, because of its proportion of funding in the AACPS budget. However, we have to remain vigilant in monitoring our financial operations. Expiration of Federal K-12 Emergency Funds Could Pose Challenges for States February 28 , 2023, J. Lefebvre and S. Master, available at: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

What is your position on increasing teacher salaries?

Teachers are underpaid, under-resourced, over-managed, and expected to succeed. Teacher salaries need to be increased……AND more.  Along with increasing teacher salaries and benefits, we must address critical issues, or it will not serve our need to recruit and retain teachers. Teachers are serving in many roles to students, schools, administrators, and parents.  They are NOT just teaching.  We must empower the role of this Professional Educator if we intend to meet academic and operational performance measures. 

The BOE should provide the policies and operational support for our teachers to succeed.  Anne Arundel County ranks $43,897 in salary for teachers.   The average salary for teachers in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, stands at $43,897 annually, showcasing a competitive yet varied landscape within the state's education sector. While this figure may fall below the averages seen in some of the top-paying districts like Montgomery County, which boasts an average salary exceeding $85,000, and Calvert County, where teachers earn an average of $89,157, Anne Arundel County remains within the mid-range with an average salary of $73,021.

Despite not being among the highest-paying districts, Anne Arundel County offers a solid compensation package that reflects the county's commitment to providing quality education and attracting talented educators. The active job market and the potential for advancement and increased pay based on various factors such as skill level, location, and experience, indicate opportunities for teachers to thrive professionally in the county.

Ultimately, while salary is an important consideration, it's just one aspect of a fulfilling teaching career. Factors like supportive work environments, professional development opportunities, and the impact on students' lives also play pivotal roles in determining the overall satisfaction and success of teachers in Anne Arundel County.

Both of my parents worked in the public sector.  My father, an Army veteran, retired from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and my mother is retired as a 30+ year public school high school teacher. 

My husband and I have spent many years in public service as well.  My husband, a former police officer turned small business owner, and I understand these positions can often pay more or less depending on the county, but almost always pay less than the private sector.  However, many of us want to serve.  We want to give to our communities, cities, and states in a meaningful way. 

According to the Maryland State Board of Education, indicates that the cost of separation, recruitment, hiring, and training costs between $9,000 and $21,000 per teacher. That further highlights the need to focus on retention and creating a sustainable work environment, including compensation. 

Attrition, (retiring, moving into another profession, etc.) and resignations, along with a dwindling pipeline of new teachers, will continue to put pressure on us to address these issues. 

I will continue to monitor if Improving AACPS and Anne Arundel County as a place to work and live, has an impact on our teacher shortage. 

Specifically:

♦     Maryland’s Blueprint: Planning for better pay and better training

♦     The Anne Arundel County, General Development Plan: Bringing commercial revitalization, redevelopment, transit, and walkability to our County

♦     Facilities Planning for improvements to our aging facilities and building new schools

♦     Redistricting to address classroom overcrowding

Addressing and optimizing the professional workplace-- the classroom and schools--have to be part of the solution. Increasing classroom sizes, complex student/class “acuity” mixes, conditional teacher support, students with enhanced learning needs, disciplinary policy inconsistency, handoffs to student support services, and administration leadership, disciplinary….and yes….US---parents and guardians partnership. Maryland’s Teacher Workforce: Supply, Demand, and Diversity, Members of the State Board of Education, M. Choudhury, State Superintendent of Schools, July 26, 2022.  Available at:  Maryland’s Teacher Workforce: Supply, Demand, and Diversity.    

What do you mean by “AACPS is part of an ecosystem”?

AACPS is part of Anne Arundel County’s ecosystem of assets and services to serve its residents. Specifically, our County Executive, Steuart Pittman, has published Plan2040, the update to the Anne Arundel County General Development Plan. As part of the vision for the county, AACPS is key for supporting the visions of Planning for Health Communities and Planning for a Healthy Economy. As well, AACPS will also receive the benefit of the other visions for our county of Planning for the Natural Environment which focuses on the conservation, protection and management of the County’s water and land; and Planning for the Built Environment which focuses on revitalization, redevelopment, cultural resources, and sustainability. School Board or Council District 7 is represented in the planning as Region 8 (Davidsonville, Harwood, Owensville, Wayson’s Corner, Lothian, Friendship, Owings and parts of Edgewater) and Region 9 (Mayo Peninsula, Galesville, West River, Shady Side, Churchton, Deale, Tracy’s Landing, North Beach, and parts of Edgewater and Friendship). (Plan2040: Background Volume II: Anne Arundel County General Development Plan Adopted May 3, 2021.)

As part of the ecosystem of assets and services, we cannot view education in a silo, but understand its interconnectedness within the County. We should understand and leverage existing services and assets and create direct paths to services for our students, teachers, staff and stakeholders within AACPS. As a former Registered Nurse, we referred to this as a “warm handoff”. It requires experience in creating, building and sustaining bridges to services.

In my professional life, I have worked to build, develop, and maintain national programs, such as the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan marketing, the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP), and the Individual Health Insurance Exchanges.

I have experience in law, legislation, regulations. I have drafted and written laws, regulations, and policies. Policymaking experience is very important in this role. The Board develops policies that impacts the entire school system. Policymaking is different than politics. I am not a politician. I am an Independent who wants to focus on our schools and AACPS’ business operations and finding budget conscious solutions.

What is your position on funding education?

It’s our responsibility, but the resources should be overseen with sound business principles, so the BOE doesn't create financial burdens on our residents through the County's funding or taxation. Public education between kindergarten and high school is financed in Maryland through a combination of state and local funds supplemented by federal grants. The portion of the school budget funding that comes from local funds, is based on local taxing capacity and the willingness to support education though taxation. The formula accounts for local wealth and taxation to supplement state and federal funding.

I find it troubling; Jeremy York has already mentioned seeking a bigger budget for FY2026, without having access to the information to assess the risk of making that statement. He has never served on the BOE, nor during the past 3 years on the, while I served on the Advisory Board to the BOE. Bigger budgets, require money and people are stretching every dollar. Sound bites impact people’s pockets.

As a mother of AACPS students, AACPS volunteer, taxpayer, and wife of a small business owner, I feel my dollar’s purchasing power dwindle. As your elected Board Member--the Business and Operations of Education--and not political alignments--will be my focus. Sound business decisions, budget resourcefulness, and innovation will be used to guide solutions. As the Board of Education, we should always remember that what we use, will not be somewhere else. We must find a balance so we can allow investments in our communities, so our students and families have safe, livable communities. I believe we have an obligation to be mindful and deliberate in this trusted role.

Special Education Services and CCR

I would like to explore true innovation in our special education services. How we serve our students in this community and working with the medical community to forecast our human resource and technology needs better and have a robust special education service department Our special education services often begin in the community setting, so better coordination and information sharing should be key

Parent & Guardian Involvement

For students with mild manifestations of spectrum disorders , they can blend into the student body, allowing us to lose sight of these students. In education, we have to be open to the partnership with parents and guardians—including special education services.

Sensory Safe Spots

I would like to explore ways to create sensory-safe spots in our facilities. Students with sensory disorders, especially related to sound and light, are part of our community. We need to explore ways to create spaces for students in need of additional sensory support.

Formalizing our Commitment to Wellness

We all recognize the importance of the health of our community. The AACPS community should integrate a health and wellness component into its vision for our future.

Increasing access to physical fitness should be a priority. The programs exist just need to locate them throughout the area to increase access for students.