Campaign email: bentforkids@gmail.com
Age: 52
Employment: Program manager, Engineering Solutions Inc.
Education: Executive MBA, Robert H. Smith School of Business at University of Maryland
Why are you running for the school board?
Was appointed to an open seat in November 2021, and I am running to continue the work of supporting the students in Queen Anne’s County.
What makes you a good candidate for the board?
Level-headed, I understand that board members are to support the education of students; it is not a political position. There are many aspects of this position and no one item encompasses everything that needs to be done. Board members need to have the right purpose for this position. It is about the students.
Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.
No one specifically, any leader who is working to make the lives of their constituents better.
What is the most important issue facing your school board and what would you do about it if elected?
Most important issue facing our school board is the political climate. We have programs that are not fully funded and community involvement is down. The focus is no longer on our students and their well being and I would like to get back to that.
How concerned are you about school safety, and what if anything should be done to improve it?
I am very concerned about school safety, however, in our county we are working closely with the local sheriff’s department to deploy one resource office to each school; we are investing in security vestibules at the front of all schools and education on active shooters.
Do you have any concerns about the way history is taught in your district’s schools, and if so, what are they?
My concern is that teachers have a safe environment to teach an approved curriculum without the fear of political issues making their job harder or fear of retribution by parents that do not agree with the coursework.
Do you think there are circumstances when books should be removed from school libraries, and if so, what kind of books should be removed?
There is never a reason to remove books from school libraries. However, books should only be given to students at the appropriate level. Parents should work with their students and teachers on books to ensure they are following parents’ wishes.
