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Campaign Phone
4435298914
Campaign Instagram
latoya_nkongolo
I am an award winning mental health expert and entrepreneur with acclaimed programs in Anne Arundel County and exceptional budget management skills. I served as the Severna Park Representative for AACPS' Citizen Advisory Committee, effectively advocating for enhanced mental health resources in public schools. Above all, I'm a proud mother of two high-achieving scholar athletes.
In less than a decade, AACPS, once top-ranked in the State of Maryland, has faltered, now mediocre at best despite rising taxes and increased funding for public school education. I aim to restore academic excellence, equip students and teachers, and enhance parental involvement. My goal is to revive our schools' former greatness and ensure taxpayers' investment yields returns.
To secure safe, supportive, and conducive learning spaces, I would prioritize tackling physical safety measures foremost. I'd also hold individuals accountable for disruptions hindering teaching and learning, fostering a culture of respect to create an environment where teachers can teach effectively and students can learn without impediments.
As a mental health therapist, I strongly advocate for schools offering support to students as well as staff. However, I recommend optimizing community resources. Schools should serve as hubs for parents and children to access information and seek referrals to various community-based providers within the county for comprehensive support.
Attracting and retaining high-caliber teachers and staff across the district requires a multifaceted approach. Professional development must be a priority as this will enable teachers to refine their skills and excel in their profession, striving to become top-tier professionals in the field. Additionally, soliciting feedback from staff and implementing their suggestions can enhance job satisfaction and retention.
My budgetary priorities revolve around ensuring adequate funding for essential educational resources, improving reading and math proficiency among elementary students and updating curriculum materials. To balance these priorities with the Maryland Blueprint for Education mandates, I would allocate resources strategically, prioritizing initiatives that align with the blueprint's goals while seeking innovative and cost-effective solutions to meet all educational needs.
Campaign Instagram
instagram.com/danaboardofed
I'm a public school parent with an MBA and have served on the Board for the last 6 years, chairing multiple committees, I work with billion-dollar budgets, served through a global pandemic, a national superintendent search, a transportation shortage, new school start times, & the passage of the Blueprint. Improving early childhood literacy, expanding mental health counseling, fighting censorship & extremist policies, & implementing the Blueprint with fidelity are my goals in a second term.
Improving early childhood literacy is a topic the Board has discussed for years. We have addressed this issue by selecting a nationally recognized superintendent who has ample experience improving student outcomes. A new curriculum based on the science of reading will be implemented next year alongside enhanced supports for secondary students who continue to struggle in this area. Expanding access to full day preK as well as community partnerships to mentor students will also improve outcomes.
I stand by my record of supporting a school climate that is inclusive, welcoming, safe, & supportive:hiring 73 new school counselors, psychologists, & social workers, supporting our SROs, implementing restorative & positive behavioral practices, & fighting censorship & regressive policies, to name a few. Additionally, I supported budgets & dozens of contracts that include a variety of school safety systems & measures (cameras, locks, etc). All will continue in a second term.
My record proves my support: I’ve voted to add more school counselors every year.. Many of our students come to us with trauma, exacerbated by the pandemic & the national gun violence epidemic. Stress & feeling unsafe adversely impact learning & teaching. My worst days as a Board member are when my phone rings with the news of yet another suicide. I will always support measures & cooperative efforts with the county to support student & staff mental health including those in the Blueprint.
Our excellent teachers require better pay. Over the last five years I have substantially increased teacher pay & restructured salary scales which moved us from 19th to 4th for new teacher salary in MD, supported “grow our own” programs to encourage our students to pursue careers in teaching & recruitment efforts nationally & internationally, career ladders that incentivize teachers to stay in the classroom, & student schedules that increased planning time for all elementary school educators.
My budgetary priorities are in line with the Blueprint: higher teacher pay, expanded early childhood education, more opportunities for students to prepare for college and career, and more mental health services. Our Superintendent supports these priorities as well. We must ensure that public school funding is not siphoned away to private and home schools so our students have the resources they need which must be distributed equitably. I remain against unfunded mandates imposed by the state.
