Over the past months, I’ve sat in meetings, visited schools, stood in parking lots, and joined conversations in cafeterias and community spaces across Frederick County. I’ve heard from families, educators, students, and neighbors who shared their hopes and their frustrations. Their voices have stayed with me and continue to guide me.
This journey began with listening, truly listening.
~ To parents who want to be heard and included.
~ To teachers who give everything they have and still feel stretched thin & overburdened.
~ To students who deserve opportunity, encouragement, and safe environments.
~ To a community that cares deeply about its schools and believes we can rise to meet the moment before us.
Through every story, the message has been clear:
It’s time to roll up our sleeves and move forward together.
I stepped forward not because the path is simple or easy, but because the need is real. Frederick County is growing quickly, and our response must match the pace and urgency of that growth. We have a responsibility to plan boldly, support our educators fully, and recommit ourselves to academic excellence for every student.
These priorities reflect what I have heard again and again:
• Managing growth and overcrowded schools
We must plan responsibly and urgently to keep pace with our community.
• Supporting overworked and under-resourced educators
When we invest in our teachers, we invest directly in our students’ success.
• Accelerating academic excellence
Every student deserves rigorous opportunities and meaningful pathways whether their future is college, career, or enlistment.
• Ensuring school safety and well-being
Safety is not optional, it is the foundation of every thriving school environment. We don’t get a do over when it comes to safety.
I do not claim to have every answer. But I bring experience, openness, and the willingness to work hard, ask tough questions, and collaborate on real solutions. Frederick County has strong schools and with transparency, partnership, and determination, we can make them even stronger.
This listening journey has shaped me deeply. It has reaffirmed what I already believed: our community cares profoundly about our children and their future.
As November 4 approaches, I will continue listening. I will continue showing up. And I will continue believing that together we can build a future worthy of every child in Frederick County.