Campaign Phone
301-373-5559
As a former critical care nurse I'm well versed in making informed, data driven decisions. My experience on the school board has helped me understand what it takes to be an effective member. I have the time, knowledge, and desire to continue to work on behalf of students, parents, staff, and our community to provide a high quality education so that students are prepared for their future, wherever it might lead.
I will continue to advocate for needed changes to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future legislation. I am proud of the work the Board has done over the years to ensure that our work is available for all to see and that our website delivers reliable, timely information. Our Board has also added many more opportunities for parental involvement which I believe is crucial for student success. I will continue to advocate for those opportunities.
The Blueprint for Maryland's Future is very prescriptive as to where funding must be spent. We will need funding from our county commissioners to provide sufficient resources to be able to continue the programs our students and parents have come to expect while also reallocating dollars to areas dictated by the Blueprint. Our per pupil allocation places us in the bottom third of the state for funding but we've been able to provide a world class education at which our students have excelled.
The Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center has a wide array of programs to prepare students for employment following high school. Students can receive industry certifications through a number of these programs. Available classes include auto and diesel mechanics, criminal justice, culinary arts, hospitality and tourism, electrical, engineering, and many more. Paid apprenticeships provide students with practical experience that has led to many receiving job offers prior to graduation.
I support continuing the presence of School Resource Officers in our buildings. Monitored security vestibules are in place in all buildings and all visitors must show ID before being admitted. Safety assistants are every school and monitor class changes, entrances, and building perimeters on an ongoing basis. We also have school psychologists, counselors, and social workers to assist students in need. Students do their part by alerting staff to issues of concern. Everyone has a part to play.
I was first inspired to serve when my children were in school, believing that every child deserved a quality education to succeed in life. I am inspired to continue my service to use my skills to advocate for the funding necessary to deliver a high quality education that serves all children who attend our public schools. I've worked to improve transparency, accountability, and opportunities. I hope to continue my work for four more years.
Campaign Phone
5058038215
I am a mother of 3 children currently in elementary, middle, and high school in SMCPS, so I am “in the schools” through the eyes of my children daily. As an educator myself, I have experience teaching children and teens on both sides of the Atlantic, being that I was born and raised in the USSR, experienced public education during and after the fall of the USSR, and in the United States. I saw what works, what doesn’t, what is destructive, and what builds a child/teen into a successful adult.
My main PRIORITY is to promote EXCELLENCE in education and not indoctrination. Our public schools should in no way become avenues for various special interest groups to promote their political agenda, such as radical gender theory which attacks the children’s God-given identity and robs them of their innocence. I intend to promote age-appropriate teaching materials, stop the sexualization of children, and promote learning, and the building of character.
The SMCPS BUDGET must prioritize US citizens, and should not fund wish-list programs, virtual school, and other unnecessary programs. As a board member, I will promote equal funding for every student and a budget that respects the taxpayer.
I am excited that SMCPS is actively preparing students for employment, and I will continue to promote the need for Ag classes, building trades classes, financial literacy, and life skills.
The SAFETY and WELL-BEING of every student in SMCPS is my top priority. I will support the installment of metal detectors and enforcing rigorous school discipline. Also, limiting access and time spent on electronic devices, but adding recess time and learning via outdoor field trips. All online activity should be limited for educational purposes and students should not have access to social media on school property. The mental health of students is the responsibility of the parent not school.
Empowering parents to have a voice in the education process INSPIRES me to run for school board. My goal is to hold both educators and parents accountable in the education process, encourage the positive principles of equality over equity, and promote merit-based learning. The United States has the best education system in the world. Let us preserve the quality of our system and seek to understand what made it great. Our children are our legacy and our letter written to future generations.
I am running for school board because I am a parent with two children that are currently in SMCPS and changes need to be made in our school community. I am a husband, father, coach, and 20-year Navy Veteran. My background is in program and policy management of international programs where I managed large budgets and focused on costs, schedules, and performances of multi-million-dollar programs. Also, I am currently in my second year serving as the PTA President at Leonardtown Middle School.
My priorities are teaching matters, community growth, and resources within our school system. Lack of discipline and bad behavior in our schools is rampant and needs to be addressed. Teachers are spending too much time dealing with behavior issues when they should be doing what they do best, teaching. Parents and guardians are an integral part of a students academic success and should be more engaged.
Teachers must have the supplies and resources they need to be successful. Salaries must be increased to retain experienced teachers and staff to be competitive with other local school districts. Schools are overcrowded and as the community grows our school community should expand to include new schools. As far as a decrease in the budget, it seems that salaries and positions for centrally located employees to include the superintendent should be reviewed.
Trade curriculums at the Tech Center should be introduced as early as middle school and JROTC /ROTC should be considered in multiple schools. Tech center career paths and trades are critical to our community and expanding the community outreach with PAX River Naval Air Station and local businesses to establish mentorships, and trade career path programs can ensure the success of those not electing college after graduation.
School safety is paramount. Physical security should be addressed and prioritized so our schools, students, and staff remain safe. Violence in our school system is consuming our teachers and administrators daily and there must be consequences for bad behavior. Family and community involvement in our schools is integral to academic success and safety. Mental health resources must be readily available for those that are in need.
I have decided to run for SMCPS BOE to help make an impact in our community and to help the future of our schools. Schools are overcrowded, teachers do not have the supplies or resources they need to be successful, administrators’ hands are tied when it comes to discipline, and as our community has significantly grown and changed, the school board has failed to keep up. I am a father who cares for the future academics of not only my children but all students in our community.
