Campaign email: suthowski@comcast.net
Age: 85
Employment: Retired educator
Education: Master’s degree from Salisbury University and 60 credits beyond that from the University of Maryland, College Park
Why are you running for the school board?
I worked hard for 10 years to get an elected school board in our county. As a lifelong resident, proven community leader, and my background in education, I know that I am the best candidate for the BOE. As a retired person, I have the 35-plus hours to do the job. I do not have to ask my employer’s permission to have time off to attend meetings.
What makes you a good candidate for the board?
Twice I have been cited as an outstanding woman leader in our county. I am well known through the entire county, not just the city of Salisbury. As the first woman ever elected to the Wicomico BOE, I have made my mark by speaking out at meetings, attending school functions and meetings and dinners in the community.
Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.
Dr. Carolyn Elmore-retired educator in Wicomico County, served on the Wicomico BOE, and when her husband, Delegate Page Elmore, died, she served his term in the Maryland state legislature.
What is the most important issue facing your school board, and what would you do about it if elected?
Our parents want more local control over curriculum, scheduling and selection of library books. We are working with them on these problems. However, with The Blueprint For Maryland’s Future, the state will be controlling much of what will be going on in our schools.
How concerned are you about school safety, and what if anything should be done to improve it?
We are doing a great job in Wicomico County. Our entrances to all of our buildings are closed and monitored. We have cameras throughout all of our buildings and SROs in all of our middle and high schools.
Do you have any concerns about the way history is taught in your district’s schools, and if so, what are they?
I currently sit on the curriculum committee. My greatest concern is that there is no longer a separate course in Maryland history being taught. Our curriculum is good, if the teacher stays with it and doesn’t bring in their personal issues.
Do you think there are circumstances when books should be removed from school libraries, and if so, what kind of books should be removed?
We had an issue in March with the book “All Boys Aren’t Blue.” We found two copies in two high school libraries and removed them. We had no objections about their removal. However, we had about a hundred attendees at the BOE meeting objecting to the book.
