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VOTE411 Voter Guide

Queen Anne's County Board of Education At Large

ABOUT THE OFFICE: The board consists of five members (one representative from each of the four commissioner districts and one member at large). The board is responsible for determining the mission and vision for the school system and adopting goals to help achieve that vision. The board shall adopt policies consistent with these goals and shall regularly review such policies and the progress towards attainment of these goals. The board shall also advocate for adequate funding for the school system and shall direct the expenditure of resources to best fulfill the goals.TERM: Four years with no term limitsSALARY: $3500/year (Board president $4,000)FORUM: Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., County Office Bldg., Planning & Zoning Room

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  • Candidate picture

    Shelly Frank
    (N)

  • Candidate picture

    Linda Kohler
    (N)

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    John C. Lasken
    (N)

  • Candidate picture

    Mark Wade, Jr.
    (N)

Biographical Information

MOTIVATION AND QUALIFICATIONS: Why are you seeking a seat on the Board of Education? What skills, experiences, and perspectives would you bring, and how would you use them to strengthen QACPS?

ROLE: What do you see as the role of parents, teachers and Board members in the educational system in our County? How will you ensure transparency and resolve disputes?

STAFFING AND RETENTION: QACPS has seen significant staffing reductions over the past two years. How would you prioritize recruiting, hiring, and retaining teachers, special educators, paraeducators, specialists, and tutors across all schools? What specific actions would you support?

CLASSROOM SUPPLIES AND TEACHER REIMBURSEMENT:Teachers often purchase classroom supplies with their own money. What is your position on reimbursing these expenses, and what reimbursement approach or limit do you believe is appropriate?

OTHER PRIORITIES: What other issues are priorities for you?

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Campaign Phone 410-739-8413
Campaign Email lindakohler@verizon.net
I am seeking a seat on the BOE because I believe QACPS need better fiscal management as it impacts hiring, class size, school support – things that have the most profound impact on student learning. I run a community foundation that operates with 4% overhead and has grown from $35,000 in assets to $11M during my tenure. I also serve on the QAC Spending Affordability Committee and review the County’s and BOE’s budgets before they are made public. I volunteered at every QACPS my son attended.
Parents, teachers, and Board members need to be involved and engaged so the system works. Parents need to support their child’s learning, ensure they complete homework, and show up to school with a positive attitude. Teachers need to give every student their best so every child can read, do math, know history, and develop their skills. Board members need to invest the time to understand the budget and make informed decisions. I will ask questions openly in meetings and make my positions known.
Far too many staffing cuts have been made, which have had a direct impact on student learning and teacher retention. A well-run, supportive school system attracts quality candidates and encourages good teachers to stay. This was how QAC operated for many years and what we need to return to. I support lowering class size, adding special and para-educator positions that were eliminated, and ensuring employees at all levels are involved in decision-making. Rebuilding takes time, but is doable.
QAC teachers should not have to use their own money for classroom supplies as these items should be included in the BOE budget. When state and local funding are not an option, we need to be innovative and find other ways to provide teachers with the tools they know will help their students. One example is the Queen Anne’s County Education Partnership, a fund of Chesapeake Charities. Since 2021, this fund has provided $26,000 to local teachers for supplies that weren’t in the BOE budget.
Reading and math test scores need to improve at almost every grade level. After school programming needs to return to previous levels that included academic remediation, enrichment, art, science, as well as sports and drama.
Campaign Phone 856-281-8428
Campaign Mailing Address 126 Opera Ct
Centreville, MD 21617-2488
Motivation for seeking a seat on the Board of Education is to ensure students receive the best possible material and atmosphere for learning. Background includes BS in Aerospace Engineering and Masters in Divinity Certified GED Math teacher. Raised 3 daughters and supported them from K - 12 in public school. Participated in PTO including Treasurer. 2 terms on the Mount Laurel, NJ K-8 school board. Schools tend to migrate toward cultural relevance. I desire to emphasize basic fundamentals
Parents have the primary responsibility to raise their children. This includes education. While part of this responsibility involves delegating teaching to professionally trained educators, this does not include abdicating authority. This remains in the role of the parent. The School Board must work to ensure that parents are provided with full transparent access to directions that the school system takes in defining educational objectives.
The single most relevant factor for recruiting and retention is budget. This places a high level of responsibility on the School Board, working with Community, Administration and Teachers, to prioritize budget items for the fundamentals of education above ancillary objectives. A second factor is providing recognition and support to those who work in the school system. The School Board can be proactively involved in giving support and recognizing contributions.
This becomes part of the budget process. As I previously indicated, I support efforts to place budget funding priority toward achieving the fundamentals of education. This includes expenses that the teachers fund for classroom supplies. As a secondary tactic, PTO's can be involved in fund raising that provides support for classroom supply costs.
A driving factor for my participation in the QACPS School Board is to ensure that the focus on education, not on cultural indoctrination. Schools must be politically neutral.
Campaign Mailing Address 413 Watson Rd
Centreville, MD 21617-2313
As a proud QACPS graduate and a Veteran with a distinguished service record, I am deeply committed to our students’ success. My life is defined by service; as a dedicated mentor and active volunteer in several local programs, I work daily to strengthen our community. I want to ensure my children and all QACPS students have every opportunity to excel. By leveraging my experience in leadership and community service, I will fight to make Queen Anne’s County a premier place to learn and grow.
Active parental involvement is the cornerstone of a transparent school system. As a father with children in two different buildings, I believe that transparency starts with being involved in the classroom. I believe parents have a right to be informed and involved in every situation affecting their child. By fostering an open-door culture, we ensure accountability and build the trust necessary for our students to succeed.
My top priority is securing equitable funding for QACPS. Currently third from the bottom in state support, our district deserves better. I will advocate aggressively at the state level to ensure we receive our fair share. By securing these resources first, we build the financial foundation necessary to improve teacher retention, stabilize our workforce, and cultivate a professional climate where both educators and students thrive. Funding is the fuel for our success.

As a parent, I offer supplies to my children's teachers to ease their burden. However, I believe certain essentials should be reimbursable. To further support our classrooms, we should partner with local charities to redirect excess supplies from school drives directly into the school system for distribution. By streamlining these resources, we ensure every student and teacher has what they need without the personal financial strain.
As a father of students, the son and brother of three teachers, and a product of our schools, I am deeply invested in our education system. My commitment to our community is rooted in the belief that when our children thrive, we all thrive. I am eager to leverage my unique perspective to make a direct, positive impact on our youth and their future. Together, we can build a stronger foundation for the next generation. I would be honored to serve and help our students reach their full potential.