The differences between two board candidates

An interesting contrast and comparison between two women (Dana Schallheim and LaToya Nkongolo) who want to represent our children’s interests on the Anne Arundel County School Board was seen in this newspaper on Feb. 13.

Schallheim, the current board member, in her self-promoting letter about receiving an award for, “…proudly [leading] the fight to update our bullying prevention and anti-bias policies and advocate for students with special needs.” She has shown throughout her term it’s more important to be a civil rights activist than an advocate for academics in educating our kids.

Schallheim: “One of my most important jobs as an elected member of the Board of Education of Anne Arundel County is to make sure that all students are treated equitably, regardless of their race, gender, class, ability, family background or any other protected class.”

Nkongolo: “The common advice I was given was to pursue higher education and secure a stable job. Sadly, this narrative isn’t unique to me; many individuals, both young and old, lack the necessary knowledge to escape poverty, resulting in feelings of hopelessness, depression, and anxiety.”

In honor of Black History Month, Nkongolo initiated a financial literacy program five years ago. This program aims to educate her community on practical skills essential for financial stability, such as building credit, homeownership, entrepreneurship, and estate planning. It is free.

These two have different backgrounds and focus on what’s important to our children’s success. The incumbent stresses social acceptance. The challenger learned at a young age the importance of solid, definable education.