Campaign email: dorothyandrewsschoolboard@gmail.com
Website: https://www.dorothyandrews4smcboe.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DorothyAndrewsSchoolBoard/
Age: 66
Employment: None.
Education: Associate Degree, St. Charles Community College.
Why are you running for the school board?
My perspective on education comes from being a mother of seven, the grandmother of 11, a paraeducator in a Christian school, and a business owner. During the unwarranted closure of the schools, I home schooled two of my grandchildren, one who had attended private school and the other public school. What I quickly observed was the private schooled child was well advanced compared to the child in public school. There are variables that could explain this inconsistency, including different learning abilities. However, I find it of concern that an academic achievement gap reportedly exists between the public and private schools.
What makes you a good candidate for the board?
I am seriously concerned about the educational welfare of children.
Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.
None. Public policies endure well past the public leaders
What is the most important issue facing your school board, and what would you do about it if elected?
The most important issue is the achievement of literacy – grade level reading and writing proficiency – by the completion of the third grade. If elected, I will focus strongly on traditional education and literacy.
How concerned are you about school safety, and what if anything should be done to improve it?
I am very concerned. If elected, my policy on school security will be that the school administration must strictly adhere to the requirements of the Maryland Safe to Learn Act and the memorandums of understanding with the sheriff’s office and the state’s attorney regarding school security, especially the initiative pertaining to gangs.
Do you have any concerns about the way history is taught in your district’s schools, and if so, what are they?
My only concern about the teaching of history is that it adheres to historical facts. Rather than the rote memorization of who, what, when, and where, the focus should be on imparting a factual understanding of “why” events occurred.
Do you think there are circumstances when books should be removed from school libraries, and if so, what kind of books should be removed?
All school library books must be age-appropriate to the subject matter or otherwise removed.
