I hope to be a positive catalyst for change in Anne Arundel schools

I am Robert Silkworth. a candidate for the Board of Education in District 2, a 49-year teacher, a veteran of the Army Reserves, and a 47-year businessman in Anne Arundel County.

I am a family man. My wife, Linda, and I have been married for 51 years. We live in Old Mill. Our children graduated from Old Mill High. Our grandchildren attend Glen Burnie High. Our roots are deep in District 2. I have been privileged for 49 years to teach great students and towork with great educators. Teachers build relationships with students based on caring, trust and understanding. When students know that we care, they care. They persevere. They understand the power they have within themselves.

They commit to the power of yet: “I cannot do it YET, but I WILL do it!”

I have advocated for students, teachers, and staff my entire career. In the past four years, I have testified over 40 times at the Board of Education. I am the voice of the North County Knights! (Announcer) I believe in the power of positive relationships. I already have so many.

For me, there is no learning curve. My career has prepared me. I can begin from day one to be an effective member of this Board of Education.

So, why am I running? I am running for the kids. Our kids need us more than ever. This pandemic has placed all of us in danger. Our kids need to be safe. They need a rigorous and relevant learning experience. Their education must go on.

I am not a politician. I am an educator who cares enough about kids to volunteer when they need our help the most. I was going to retire in June, but I did not. I needed to stay connected with the E-Learning environment. I now know what it is like. No other candidate really knows.

Our teachers are truly amazing. They created a virtual learning environment that is rigorous and challenging. They continue to work beyond their contract hours because they care. Iwill always respect and advocate for teachers.

Our kids deserve the best teachers. Wemust retain and hire only the best. Some have taken them for granted. I will never do so. I am proud to have taught and mentored two members of the Board of Education, one on the Democratic side and one on the Republican side. Their dedication to Anne Arundel County Public Schools makes me proud to have been their teacher and mentor. It is now my turn.

There are challenging decisions ahead of us. Our great teachers deserve our gratitude and respect. Many are behind in their salaries and that will be remedied.

There is no place in schools or communities for hate and bias incidents. Whenwe encounter these negative behaviors, we must act swiftly, with appropriate consequences and restorative measures. Equity for all is an expectation, but not yet a reality. The achievement gap seems to get wider. We must focus on fixing the attitude gap. The achievement gap will close when we do. Wemust create a plan that will ensure a safe return to normalcy. We must work collaboratively to find solutions to problems. We must put aside partisan politics and agendas to focus on one agenda. That agenda is to create a safe, rigorous plan to return our students to normalcy.

I hope to be a positive catalyst for change. My experience and my understanding about where we have been, where we now are and where we need to go will help me collaborate with other members of the Board of Education and Superintendent George Arlotto, so that the politics of “our kids” is the only politics on the agenda.

I thank you for trusting me for almost 50 years to teach our great kids. I ask for your vote and your trust so that I can continue to make a difference in the lives of our kids. Thank you!