Vote Early May 2-9!
Primary Election Day is May 14
Do you wonder why your local union and MSEA are involved in politics? It’s because almost all of the people who make decisions about public education and your job are elected leaders or their appointees. When we elect solid friends of public education to positions on boards of education, county councils, and as state and federal representatives, they understand the issues, challenges, and needs that affect our jobs and our students. That’s just one reason we support educator candidates and true friends of public education.
On the heels of the 2022 election of educators like current Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater and Harford County Council member Jacob Bennett, more educators are taking the lead to become civic leader
Join MSEA’s Fund for Children and Public Education and help support pro-public education candidates up and down the ballot, including candidates in your local school board races.
Educator candidates know firsthand that students, schools, and educators need support from their communities and their elected leaders to do the work they are trained to do. There are multiple educator candidates who are MSEA members running for board of education seats in three countie
Are you interested in civic leadership? Are you ready to run as an educator candidate and fight for public schools? Learn more at educationvotes.nea.org.
Here are three of them:
Second grade teacher and MSEA member Natalie Zimmerman is running for a seat on the board of education in Montgomery County. It’s a highly contested race with five candidates running for the District 2 seat. Her platform is focused on transparency, new, evidence-based practices, and inclusivity and supports for all students and educators through increased staff trainings and curriculum.
In Washington County, longtime member-activist and elementary teacher Robin Merchant Spickler, is running for the board of education against an incumbent. Her values align with issues MSEA has been fighting for: expanding and diversifying the educator profession by expanding pathways to certification, fighting privatization efforts, and protecting and increasing county funding for public schools. Longtime educator, now retired, incumbent Stan Stouffer is also running. He is the current vice-president of the county board of ed.
Frederick County resident Chad King Wilson, Sr. is another longtime member-activist. He’s a social studies and special education teacher, head football coach, and track coach in Montgomery County running for one of three open seats. He’s focused on funding for building improvements, a fully staffed and funded special education program, and creating a learning environment committed to achievement—including investing in educators who are respected and valued.
IN CECIL COUNTY, where for the past four years elected leaders have chosen to fund public education at the minimum the state will allow, educators, students, and families rallied to demand additional funding to avert cuts of 185 positions and several critical student programs. “It will have far-reaching consequences for our community,” said Lori Hrinko, president of the Cecil County Classroom Teachers Association. The county executive’s recently proposed budget includes freezing salaries and emptying the school system’s reserve funds.