Campaign email: kmillerforwicomicoBOE@gmail.com
Website: www.karinmillerwicomicoboe.com
Facebook: facebook.com/karinmillerforwicomicocountyboardofeducation
Age: 64
Employment: Retired teacher. Worked in Wicomico County Schools for 19 years.
Education: Master of Science in Mathematics Education
Why are you running for the school board?
We are facing difficult issues that require creative solutions and a willingness to communicate effectively with parents, students, teachers, administrators, and a willingness to look at what has and hasn’t worked in the past and an open mind to look for new solutions. As a teacher in Wicomico County this is what I had to do every single day to reach and motivate my students and connect with their families. Having recently retired I have a unique perspective (as) to what is going on in our schools, what is working and what is not working. I believe in our students, our families and most importantly, in our schools.
What makes you a good candidate for the board?
I have been actively involved in WCPS for the past 23 years as a parent volunteer, an officer in the PTA, a substitute teacher, and a teacher at both elementary and middle school in our county. I believe in our schools; in our students and their families, and I understand the importance of education to the economic future of our county. I understand the challenges we face, having worked to ensure my children and my students received the best education possible. I bring the same drive and passion to this role that I brought to my classroom for 19 years. I have a history of working with parents and advocating for my students to improve student outcomes and will continue to do so as a board member.
Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.
A leader I admire right now is the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He started as a comedian and ended up president of Ukraine. Since that time, he has faced daunting odds against a war of Russian aggression and has emerged as a passionate and savvy leader. It would have been easy to buckle under the pressure when faced with the might of the Russian military force, but so far, he has stood strong and fought for what he believed to be right, for his people and for their way of life. I admire his bravery and his passion for his country.
What is the most important issue facing your school board, and what would you do about it if elected?
Bridging the achievement gap that has been exacerbated by the pandemic is the most important issue. My experience as a teacher in creating curriculum, implementing curriculum, and using data to inform my instruction will inform my questions for our school leaders and the decisions I make as a board member. How policies will impact what happens in the classroom will be foremost in all of my decisions. Increasing student achievement requires attracting/retaining quality teachers so we need to work with schools to improve the climate for all stakeholders so that our teachers want to stay. Creating a safe environment where students are able to learn without distraction improves learning outcomes for all.
How concerned are you about school safety, and what if anything should be done to improve it?
School safety is a concern throughout the country. We need to make sure our buildings are safe, but we also need to address the mental health crisis within our student population. It should not be a question of school resource officers OR social workers; they both have a role to play in creating a safe atmosphere within our schools. Increasing the number of social workers available as well as programs that help students learn to regulate their emotions beginning in kindergarten will both reduce school violence as well as classroom disruptions. Making sure our SROs have the training they need to form positive relationships with our students is equally important.
Do you have any concerns about the way history is taught in your district’s schools, and if so, what are they?
I do not have any concerns about the way history is taught in my school district. Maryland content standards have been established for every grade level and those content standards should continue to be taught. Teachers should remain politically neutral in their teaching and students should be encouraged to develop critical thinking skills.
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 have a process for approving books that requires parents, teachers, students and board members to actually read the books in question. Books that are approved based on that criteria should not then be removed.
