Four new faces join board of education
Christmas came early this year for many residents in Charles County after making their wish and checking it twice for a more diverse school board, something that came as a surprise Tuesday once ballots were cast in the Maryland General Election.
The seven candidates who were
chosen to serve the educational needs and interests for Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) include re-elected board members Jennifer Abell, Michael “Mike” Lukas and Virginia “Ginny” McGraw, as well as newcomers Elizabeth “Liz” Brown, Latina “Tina” Wilson, David Hancock and Tajala “Taj” Battle-Lockhart.
“I’m humbled by the responsibility the people of Charles County have allowed me once agin. I know how important it is, to them and to me, and I am honored,” Abell said Tuesday in a statement emailed to the Maryland Independent. “Serving on the board of education is work of the best kind. I work to advocate for parents, students and all the citizen taxpayers to provide the best possible educational services.”
Having raised four children who are all CCPS graduates and served in many school capacities over the years, Abell said she is aware of the “dynamics of classroom, school and system management” that teachers and administrators face “in meeting the educational needs” of students.
Abell emphasized how grateful she is that people believe in and trust her to do what’s right for their most precious possession — that is, the kids in CCPS. She looks forward to continuing her service on the school board and collaborating with.
“There are challenges,” Abell said. “We must all work together to meet those challenges. We have to move forward with collective agreement and wisdom. Those who serve on the board of education understand we are guiding a very large effort, and we take it seriously. We all want a safe and positive learning environment for the students and staff — a system that listens to everyone’s concerns and inputs before making important decisions. A system that supports families and the engagement of parents. That is the evidence of a strong school system.”
For Hancock, he said “good enough is not good enough” as it is “time to make good, excellent.” Hancock said he looks forward to not only being a fighter for teachers, students, parents and “every tax-paying citizen,” but also building much needed relationships that will “bring positive change” to the education board.
“I’m very honored and humbled to have received so much support from my community,” Hancock said. “I look forward to unifying the elected board and bringing everyone together to produce common-sense solutions that will enhance the educational system in our county.”
“I would say to the residents that we have a very diverse board now that represents the county,” Hancock added. “They are all people that I know on a personal level and would be willing to sit down with each other and find solutions to the problems that we face. I believe we have a board that will be willing to listen to every resident in the county. I think this is a good thing for the people of Charles County.”
Hancock said he is grateful for those supporters that helped him win a spot on the board. However, he is most proud of the “amazing job” that all school board candidates have done while running “such a hard-fought,” yet civil race.
“I’m so excited for the opportunity. I’m just ready to be a part of the team that Charles County Public Schools need,” Battle-Lockhart said. “To be able to do this with my daughter beside me is so amazing. I’m ready to start working and try to make
an impact. It was hard work but I’m glad that it paid off.”
“We need fresh ideas. With the previous board, some of the members have been there for quite a while,” Battle-Lockhart continued. “The greatest change is the diversity — now it’s a reflection of the community which is something that the residents wanted. I’m excited to see what this new team can bring to the table. We have to get together, figure out a plan and see how we can execute it in a way that can drive some results.”
The three incumbents that ran for re-election on the school board but did not win included current chairwoman Barbara “Barb” Palko, Margaret Marshall and “Vicki” Talley Kelly. The other candidates who would’ve served their first-ever term were Dottery Butler-Washington, Leslie Coker, Robert Michael Pitts and Nashonda Sherrod.
“Their fight was genuinely sincere and I admire each and every last one of them,” said Battle-Lockhart, who also serves as vice president of the Kingsview Homeowners Association. “This was one of the only races that I felt that everybody ran with civility. We were cordial and didn’t let the competitiveness or political piece of it get in the way. With me being a community member myself, I admire them for their willingness to serve. Just because they didn’t make it, it does not mean that they still can’t be a part of the process. Their fight was strong enough and believable so I just hope that they would be willing to still be a part of the solution, regardless.”
Kelly said she appreciates the support shown over the past four years and has enjoyed ser ving on the school board. Whether it involves volunteering as a reading partner, supporting fine and performing arts programs or attending sporting events at local high schools, Kelly encourages community members to join her in supporting the school system.
“I appreciate the trust and faith that the citizens of Charles County have put in me over the past four years to serve as a member of the Charles County Board of Education,” Kelly said. “I will continue to be active in our community and make a difference in the lives of our students, volunteering alongside our fabulous teachers and parents, as I have been for the past decade through my volunteer efforts in our schools.”
Kelly, a Maurice J. McDonough High School graduate who lives in La Plata with her husband and three children, said she will remain an active volunteer in the school system and looks forward to “some great things” from the newly-elected board as “a lot is at stake.”
“I applaud all of the candidates who stepped up to the challenge to run for a seat,” she said. “I wish the incoming board all the best.”
“Everyone who ran was qualified to serve,” Hancock said. “One of the things that really made me so proud was that every one of us running for the board of education not only kept it civil, but we all were friends with each other. We operated on a friendly basis and were able to talk to one another. It’s just something to be proud of, especially with so much division going on, when you can debate in a positive manner.”
As the former education committee chairwoman for the Charles County NAACP, Wilson said she has spent a lot of time observing the education system and now wants to bring the skills and discipline she learned, following a 20-year career in the military, to the school board.
“Education has become very complex and we have one of the fastest growing school systems,” Wilson said. “Many families are moving here because of the reputation and the ability to support the special needs population. Make no mistake; there are some challenges and we need to deal with those challenges. But our school system is a successful one. My contribution is to continue to make it even better.”
Wilson, who had the highest amount of support in the general election with more than 27,000 votes, said she is “deeply honored” and appreciative to the voters who entrusted her to be a board member. She is overwhelmed with joy and eager to begin the change that she fought hard for.
“As a retired servicemember, I understand that when you’re entrusted with responsibility, you have an obligation to fulfill and do it completely without reservations. I’m excited about going forward and working with the other board members,” she said. “We’re one team with one mission. It’s about ensuring that the same opportunities that were given to me, as a graduate of [CCPS], are afforded to all of our children. We need to come together as a community because it does take a village. I’m energized, excited and I believe in the school system. I’m going to do my very best to meet my obligations for the constituents here in Charles County.”