Cecil County Board of Education District 2 Choose 1
DUTIES: The Board of Education hires the superintendent and sets the policies that provide a framework for the program of studies. Work sessions focus on comprehensive presentations and discussions about instructional and curricular matters, short-range and long-range planning and associated budgetary issues. The board is made up of 5 voting members and 5 non-voting student members.SALARY: $5,000TERM: Four years.HOW ELECTED: Each board member is required to live in his/her council district but is elected at large to serve a four year term. Terms are staggered so that districts 3, 4, and 5 are elected in the gubernatorial election and districts 1 and 2 in the presidential election.
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 Twitter
@DDitajw
Campaign Website
http://www.ditawatsonandfriends.com
Campaign Email
aferdita.watson@gmail.com
Campaign Facebook
http://facebook.com/Ditawatson
Campaign Twitter Handle
@@DDitajw
Campaign Mailing Address
93 Strrup Drive
Elkton, MD 21921
Elkton, MD 21921
QUALIFICATIONS: How does your background prepare you for the duties of this office?
As someone who has been in the public service industry for over 25 years, as a stylist, now small business owner, and a mother of two boys, as well as an immigrant (legal) from a war torn country (Kosovo), I believe that my perspective on some of the missing links within the education system can be clearly brought to light. My ability to see propaganda from afar will help other members realize what we can all do better in proper empowerment of our youth, through strong civics and finance iq.
PARENTAL INPUT: How would you address concerns about specific books or instructional materials in the schools?
I would encourage high parental involvement in the process of procuring the questionable books if any come to surface at any point. Policies would have to be in place for the parents to always be in the know, and so have the right to request any such books to be respectfully referred to other libraries if necessary and out of schools.
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?
Building stronger relationships between parents and teachers, as I believe parental involvement to be the key to a lot of the teen mental crisis, as well as social media and lack of accountability. Responsible moral behavior is a "Must" in my opinion, building their self-respect, maybe through honorable situations will aid in their own journey to inner balance and piece, and that is where love for self is in it's strongest mode. Exposing them to positive projection programs; back to basic sex ed
OPPORTUNITY GAP: How would you ensure that all students have equitable access to resources, challenging courses, and effective teachers and administrators?
From what I believe, there are issues with successfully implementing the existing resources, possibly lack of accountability. I would ensure communications and proper actions are to flow without ego and $ in mind, always "kids first" instead. Accountability must be enforced and respected.
TEACHERS: What strategies would you support to attract and retain effective teachers and administrators?
I would like to work towards policies that cut through a lot of the teachers systemic test teaching, rather work on going back to letting them teach, be creative, do what they love, again, as that seems to be the highest reason for most leaving their posts and going elsewhere. Too much paperwork not enough time to actually teach. Happy teachers would be followed by happy administrators as well as children.