Worcester County Board of Education District 5 Choose 1
DUTIES: The Board of Education is responsible for the supervision of the public schools, including the selection of a Superintendent, approval of the annual budget, and establishing general policies governing the school system.HOW ELECTED: The Worcester County Board of Education is comprised of seven members who are elected by district, with four districts (1,4,6,7) elected in Gubernatorial Elections and three districts (2,3,5) in Presidential Elections by the voters of Worcester County. In addition, the Board has three non-voting student members, serving a single year and representing each high school. Board members elect a president and vice president from among the membership.TERM: 4 years, no term limits.
Biographical Information
QUALIFICATIONS: How does your background prepare you for the duties of this office?
Candidate has not yet responded.
PARENTAL INPUT: How would you address concerns about specific books or instructional materials in the schools?
Candidate has not yet responded.
TEEN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS: What programs and policies, if any, do you propose or support to help our schools address the ongoing concerns around student mental health?
Candidate has not yet responded.
OPPORTUNITY GAP: How would you ensure that all students have equitable access to resources, challenging courses, and effective teachers and administrators?
Candidate has not yet responded.
TEACHERS: What strategies would you support to attract and retain effective teachers and administrators?
Candidate has not yet responded.
Biographical Information
Campaign Phone
410-726-0651
Campaign Email
DorothyForBOE@gmail.com
Campaign Mailing Address
350 Ocean Parkway
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Ocean Pines, MD 21812
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Ocean Pines, MD 21812
QUALIFICATIONS: How does your background prepare you for the duties of this office?
I have been an educator all my life- over forty years. I taught grades K - 8, adult education, and was an adjunct professor at University of Delaware. I was Curriculum Supervisor and Director of Accountability and Assessment at the school district level. I worked for five educational publishers as an author, an educational consultant and an early childhood product manager. I presented at local, state and national conferences as well as college conferences. I did staff development at all levels
PARENTAL INPUT: How would you address concerns about specific books or instructional materials in the schools?
When choosing instructional materials or free reading or library materials to have available in schools there should be a committee made of teachers, parents and administrators to approve through a district There are so many wonderful books out there, that this should be an easy task.
TEEN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS: What programs and policies, if any, do you propose or support to help our schools address the ongoing concerns around student mental health?
Teen mental health should be dealt with in two levels. All children should feel safe in their school. All children should have things they can participate in and be successful. This is a school’s responsibility. If the level of mental health is more serious, there should be a professional that they and their parents can be referred to for additional help.
OPPORTUNITY GAP: How would you ensure that all students have equitable access to resources, challenging courses, and effective teachers and administrators?
Before any instruction can occur, classrooms must be safe and orderly. Only then can learning begin.
Student’s instructional requirements vary based on students needs. Staff development for teachers and administrators on what instructional strategies and materials to use is critical. Parents should also be taught what they can do to support their child’s learning.
When a child reaches secondary school, focus on preparing each child for success after graduation. One size does not fit all.
TEACHERS: What strategies would you support to attract and retain effective teachers and administrators?
Teachers and administrators do not choose school districts purely on salary, although that does play a big part. They also choose based on school safety and student achievement data. If these two factors are positive, we will attract the best teachers and administrators. Rewarding their talents and hard work through Recognition and promotions also attracts good people. Being able to serve on committees, having their opinions and achievements respected is also important.
Biographical Information
Campaign Email
e.mccomas@verizon.net
Campaign Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/share/Hq73oAu8wXJydP8G/?mibextid=o3JX1P
Campaign Mailing Address
7 Federal Hill
Berlin, MD 21811
Berlin, MD 21811
QUALIFICATIONS: How does your background prepare you for the duties of this office?
As a 30 year educator with extensive teaching and leadership experience, I feel I have the knowledge and passion to continue contributing as a school board member. After 7 successful years of service on the Board of Education, including serving as vice president and president, I’m excited to continue to support the teachers and students as they build on our successes.
PARENTAL INPUT: How would you address concerns about specific books or instructional materials in the schools?
For sexually explicit materials, the leading question should be “what is age appropriate” with the primary focus being parental involvement. If children are minors, parents are their legal guardians and therefore have the right to address concerns over books that may not be age appropriate for their child. We already have a policy in place where parents can employ an opt-out process to prevent their children from checking out books of concern.
TEEN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS: What programs and policies, if any, do you propose or support to help our schools address the ongoing concerns around student mental health?
Our first line are school counselors who are trained to recognize and address mental health concerns among our students. Follow-ups include working with families to connect students with school-based mental health services and partner organizations like the Worcester County Health Dept. and Chesapeake Health Care. Proactively we emphasize education for both adults and students such as Youth Mental Health First Aid and supporting various student wellness programs at schools.
OPPORTUNITY GAP: How would you ensure that all students have equitable access to resources, challenging courses, and effective teachers and administrators?
As a school district and county that has focused on community based schools, our teachers work diligently to provide our students with educational support. Smaller class sizes allow teachers to address the needs of our struggling students. Challenging courses such as Advanced Placement are offered at all our high schools despite student class sizes. Our teachers are amazing but these types of support rely on state and local funding which are in jeopardy.
TEACHERS: What strategies would you support to attract and retain effective teachers and administrators?
We have had great success in previous years. Smaller class sizes, innovative programs and partnerships such as being an Apple District all help. But in today’s economy, keeping up with the state mandated salary scale is a key factor in insuring that we maintain and continue to attract high quality teachers and staff. Unfortunately our beginning teachers are the lowest paid in the state and we have already lost good teachers to neighboring counties because their salaries are so much higher.