Election Guide 2024: Meet The Board Of Education Candidates

Anne Arundel County has important races in the 2024 presidential general election, with the Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) Board of Education and Anne Arundel County Circuit Court on the ballot. Statewide, the election will decide representatives for the U.S. Senate and Congress.

Get to know the District 5 Board of Education candidates ahead of the election. Early voting runs from October 24-31, and Election Day is November 5.

Responses were edited for space. Full responses are available at www.severnaparkvoice.com.

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION — DISTRICT 5

LaToya Nkongolo

When asked about the greatest need in the public school system, you mentioned how student performance is not where it should be given the amount of investment from taxpayers. What can the Board of Education and school system do to address this?

The recent Maryland Comprehensive Assessment results show that less than 55% of AACPS students are proficient in reading, and fewer than 30% are proficient in math. Additionally, science scores have declined statewide. Anne Arundel, once ranked among the top five school districts in the state, is currently mediocre at best. Unfortunately, our current board leadership has not made academics a priority, allowing schools to become overly focused on political and social issues.

In a recent meeting, our superintendent pointed out that we neither have the time nor resources to act as both educational institutions and social service agencies. With a $2 billion budget, we are not seeing a return on our investment. There are only 180 days in a school year, and we cannot afford to waste either our students' time or our tax dollars.

Even with the large financial investment in the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, Maryland jurisdictions are struggling to implement the changes without eliminating other programs. Should Anne Arundel County residents be concerned about the blueprint not being implemented as planned or further funding being needed?

Yes, Anne Arundel County residents, particularly taxpayers, should be concerned. As the state cannot fully fund the blueprint, the responsibility has shifted to local taxpayers, which could result in increased taxes and reduced funds for other essential services. While Anne Arundel County is faring better than some, key initiatives like public-private partnerships for pre-K 4 have not come to fruition, leaving a potential burden on local capital and operational budgets. This is similar to the costly and lengthy process it took to transition kindergarten to full-day, which took over a decade and millions of dollars. Therefore, further funding needs or implementation challenges could strain local resources even more.

At a campaign fundraiser, you said the school system is leaving parents out of decisions, which is causing mental illness, not mental wellness. How do you see the board’s role in addressing mental health and the morale of staff and students?

Parents know their children better than anyone else, and research shows that parental involvement leads to better mental health outcomes. Collaboration between parents and teachers creates a more supportive and effective learning environment for students and staff. However, our school is not placing enough emphasis on teaching key aspects of mental wellness, such as resilience, self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation. These and other protective factors, which are absent from the current mental health curriculum, could play a critical role in reducing depression, anxiety and other mental health challenges our students are facing.

What do you think the Board of Education, and specifically District 5, could have done better over the last six years?

I believe our board could have handled the pandemic much more effectively, and I was disappointed that the current school board representative pushed for keeping kids out of schools even longer. Anne Arundel was one of the last school districts in the state to return to in-person learning, which had a significant negative impact on students both academically and mentally. The extended closures and delayed reopening were mishandled, ultimately doing more harm than good. Now, we must take aggressive measures to help our students get back on track with reading and math at grade level, addressing the learning loss caused by COVID.

As both a parent and a mental health therapist, I was on the front lines, helping students navigate the emotional challenges of prolonged isolation. When I reached out to our current representative to advocate for our students, my concerns fell on deaf ears. As a leader, I am proactive in decision-making, ensuring that issues are addressed before they turn into crises – unlike how the COVID situation was handled.

Additionally, in the year following the pandemic shutdown, as students were transitioning back to school while wearing masks and dealing with bus transportation challenges, AACPS introduced a change in school start times. This decision placed a heavy burden on two-parent working households, making it nearly impossible to manage both work and school schedules. My opponent championed this change without consulting district residents or considering the significant readjustment challenges students and parents were already facing due to COVID.

What is the greatest advice you have received about leadership or running for office?

The best advice I received from an elected official before launching my campaign was, “LaToya, be prepared to read and hear things about yourself, and you won't even recognize who they're talking about.” This piece of advice was invaluable in mentally preparing me for the past year of campaigning, allowing me to stay focused on my true mission: creating a school system that delivers the highest-quality education, ensuring all children are prepared to compete and succeed, whether in college or a career.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know?

Throughout my time here, I’ve been known as a bridge builder and gap filler. When I see a need in our county, I find the resources or solutions to address it. I have proudly served Anne Arundel County for 17 years in various leadership roles, and every initiative I’ve been involved with has been met with success. My passion for serving our community runs deep, and I am confident I will bring the same level of success to representing District 5 as I have in my previous roles.

Dana Schallheim

You said improving childhood literacy is the greatest area of need in the school system. What can the Board of Education and school system do to support that goal?

My board colleagues and I unanimously voted to approve a new reading curriculum based on the science of reading, including phonics, which is being implemented this school year. The board will monitor the data including iReady, student assessments, and teacher feedback and provide support should Dr. (Mark) Bedell come to us with further recommendations. We must continue early interventions and hire additional reading specialists as well as more classroom teachers to reduce class size and thereby increase individualized attention.

Even with the large financial investment in the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, Maryland jurisdictions are struggling to implement the changes without eliminating other programs. Should Anne Arundel County residents be concerned about the blueprint not being implemented as planned or further funding being needed?

AACPS made tough decisions and prioritized blueprint pillars in our budget to keep on pace with state law mandates. The only jurisdiction to create an educator career ladder, AACPS is leading the state regarding blueprint implementation. What we can’t do is offer full-day pre-K without the requisite funding from the state and county. While the blueprint was good in theory, in practice there are certainly issues that District 5 felt when teachers were reallocated. I hope the Maryland General Assembly can come up with a solution so that every public-school student gets the world-class education they deserve.

How do you see the board’s role in addressing mental health and the morale of staff and students?

For students:

• Adding dozens of new school counselors, psychologists and social workers positions.
• Advocating for flex periods at all middle and high schools. Flex periods provide time for students to equitably participate in clubs, do homework, or meet with teachers for reteaching.
• Maintaining a robust virtual tutoring and homework help program that was previously at risk of being canceled when federal funds expired.

For staff:

• Improving teacher and staff compensation that is more in line with surrounding counties (more must be done in this area, especially for veteran teachers, food service workers, and paraprofessionals).
• Creating additional teacher planning time with implementation of the Triple E program in all elementary schools.
• Ensuring that teachers and staff have a seat at the table regarding initiatives, such as the new strategic plan, and feel heard when voicing concerns.

Which of the Board of Education’s accomplishments are you most proud of over your six-year term?

I have accomplished many of my goals over the past six years and so it’s hard to pick favorites. I am proud of:

• Hiring a nationally recognized superintendent, Dr. Bedell.
• Improving student outcomes under Dr. Bedell’s leadership including test scores that have outpaced the state for the last two years, increasing the number of students taking AP exams and scoring a three or greater for the last three years, and graduation rates that are 90% or higher in 11 schools while closing graduation gaps in our homeless, English language learners, and socioeconomically disadvantaged students.
• Aligning school start times with science.
• Revising policies for our students receiving special education services or facing food allergies, bullying, bias and more.
• Funding new or replacement schools so that our students can learn in world-class facilities.
• Creating the only award of its kind in the country which recognizes students who are enlisting to serve our country after graduation and successfully advocating for Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps programs to become magnets with bus transportation.
• Approving new middle and high school elective courses in a variety of areas from music and the arts to African American history specific to Anne Arundel County.

What is the greatest advice you have received about leadership or running for office?

Ignore the noise and focus on student outcomes.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know?

I hope District 5 voters will re-elect me because we are a better school district now than when I joined the board six years ago and are on the road from good to great; however, the work isn’t done.

I have focused on improving student outcomes including recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers, implementing research-based curriculum, and support for mental health and social-emotional development under the leadership of Dr. Bedell.

This hard work is paying off! The number of students taking AP exams and earning a 3 or better has increased for the third consecutive year, 11 of our 14 high schools have a graduation rate of 90% or better and achievement gaps are closing, and we have outpaced the state in 13 of 14 MCAP scores for two consecutive years. Additional data including discipline, referral, kindergarten readiness, and attendance will be released in the upcoming weeks that will reinforce that we are on the right path and should not change course in District 5.