More About My Priorities!

Smarter Spending
- Transparency for all spending begins with providing the public with a “Line Item” budget, so all county residents and BOE members truly understand the allocation of funds.
- Review and create potential revenue streams. Partnering with companies to advertise on buses, sports fields, and other buildings will provide additional revenue needed to support FCPS.
- Look at a reduction of the number of directors and supervisors in central office. Furthermore, audit the number of staff in each department (special education, public relations, transportation, etc.) to prevent shortages in some departments and excess in other departments.
- Review the process for budgets for new school construction. Lower the cost for purchasing materials within the building. When I was involved with the addition to Carroll Manor ES, the administration team reduced the amount of purchased furniture and returned significant funds to the board. There should be a review of what materials are truly necessary to ensure that excess money is used.
Stronger Results-
- Give our teachers a stronger voice to determine the professional development that they need instead of central office deciding for them. Teachers do not feel valued, and they need all the tools to support them working with all our students, including the most vulnerable learners.
- Review the current curriculum and instructional practices. The school system needs to get back to “BASICS” based on the science of learning. This includes bringing back explicit handwriting instruction with accountability. Review and update appropriate math interventions in elementary, middle, and high school. Furthermore, we need to focus on our multilingual learners and special education populations. (The Maryland State Assessment results reveal that 37% of students are not proficient in English Language Arts, and more than 63% are not proficient in Math. The data also shows that 79.8% of all students with disabilities were not proficient in ELA and 89.5% were not proficient in Math. Multilingual Learner students' data shows that in ELA, 87.6% were not proficient, and in Math, 92.3% were not proficient.)
- Stop the pattern of changing the ELA curriculum every few years. First, the teachers never have enough time to learn the new curriculum, and then they have to learn another one. This puts undue stress on all already stressed teachers. Again, we need to do a better job listening to the educators that are working directly with the students.
- Special Education is an area that I feel strongly about as a parent and educator. There needs to be an increase in professional development at the central office level. There is a reactive response instead of a proactive response within special education and communication with parents. Unfortunately, the current approach by central office is throwing money at parents who can afford to hire support instead of fixing the ever-growing problems in special education. This is not an equitable practice because we have a large population of students in special education that are not receiving a Free and Appropriate Education.
- As a tutor and advocate for students with Specific Learning Disabilities (Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia), I feel and know that FCPS is not identifying and testing students early even with screening (DIBELS). Parents are not receiving adequate communication about appropriate reading interventions, and unfortunately, the multitiered system of support is delaying students from getting identified, tested, and qualified for IEP services. Those that do qualify for services and are supported by an IEP are not appropriately placed in the most intense intervention or receiving actual intensive service hours due to predetermination of hours by the school system. This is why we still have students reading at an elementary level in middle and high school. Again, the parents that can afford a lawyer or advocate are the ones that are able to make real changes, and this is NOT equitable. Most students have to rely on the school system 100%, and, therefore, there needs to be changes taking place now!
Safe Schools-
- All students should be able to feel secure, focus on learning, and develop emotionally and socially.
- Pilot cameras in the classrooms for the most vulnerable students (nonverbal) in order to ensure transparency and safety. The recording should be accessible to central office and not school administrators at the local school.
- Schools must follow the policies and regulations regarding bullying. FCPS needs to do a better job of helping parents and students understand the process. Students and parents should feel safe to tell staff what is occurring and ensure that no retribution will occur to the victim.
- Ensure that all buildings are following the policies and procedures regarding emergency drills. I would add that there should be a plan for central office staff to observe and monitor all schools during the mandatory drills. Moreover, there should be a debriefing regarding what went well and what needs to be updated for future drills.

More About My Priorities!

Smarter Spending

Transparency for all spending begins with providing the public with a “Line Item” budget, so all county residents and BOE members truly understand the allocation of funds.

Review and create potential revenue streams. Partnering with companies to advertise on buses, sports fields, and other buildings will provide additional revenue needed to support FCPS.

Look at a reduction of the number of directors and supervisors in central office. Furthermore, audit the number of staff in each department (special education, public relations, transportation, etc.) to prevent shortages in some departments and excess in other departments.

Stronger Results-

Give our teachers a stronger voice to determine the professional development that they need instead of central office deciding for them. Teachers do not feel valued, and they need all the tools to support them working with all our students, including the most vulnerable learners.

Safe Schools-

All students should be able to feel secure, focus on learning, and develop emotionally and socially.

Pilot cameras in the classrooms for the most vulnerable students (nonverbal) in order to ensure transparency and safety. The recording should be accessible to central office and not school administrators at the local school.

Schools must follow the policies and regulations regarding bullying. FCPS needs to do a better job of helping parents and students understand the process. Students and parents should feel safe to tell staff what is occurring and ensure that no retribution will occur to the victim.