Campaign email: dianahawley@gmail.com
Age: 48
Employment: Current president of Board of Education of Cecil County
Education: B.A., St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Why are you running for the school board?
To continue the difficult work of serving all students by providing a quality public education system in our community
What makes you a good candidate for the board?
I am a parent, long-time volunteer in our schools, and the current board president. I have the proven experience and skills necessary to continue to do the job well; I do not have a political agenda; and I am willing to devote the huge amount of time necessary to be an effective board member. (I have a history of doing so.) I am also active on state committees and serve on the board for the Maryland Association of Boards of Education.
Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.
I admire anyone who leads with common sense, objectivity, integrity and who positively empowers their team.
What is the most important issue facing your school board, and what would you do about it if elected?
The biggest challenge facing board members is the large amount of stress and time commitment involved. We listen to the views of ALL stakeholders and strive to make balanced decisions. A Board of Education member has many responsibilities beyond singular hot button issues. Those issues are still addressed by effectively communicating with stakeholders and improving or developing fair policies and processes.
How concerned are you about school safety, and what if anything should be done to improve it?
School safety is obviously a priority. Our system has many safety measures in place and is always working on ways to improve.
Do you have any concerns about the way history is taught in your district’s schools, and if so, what are they?
No
Do you think there are circumstances when books should be removed from school libraries, and if so, what kind of books should be removed?
Books in media centers are age-appropriate, and we have a process in place for parents who might have concerns about a particular book. Parents can see what materials their child(ren) are checking out, and they should have the choice to allow their students to have access to materials that have been marked as having mature themes.
