Campaign email: puopoloforharford@gmail.com
Website: www.puopoloforharford.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PuopoloforHarfordBofEd
Age: 42
Employment: Bin There Dump That (Driver)
Education: Bachelor’s (Government and Public Policy), University of Baltimore
Why are you running for the school board?
Teachers need board members who will listen to their concerns and input to create a successful teaching environment. While the local Board of Education has done what it can, there has been little response from elected board members demanding for increased funding.
What makes you a good candidate for the board?
As a husband or friend of a teacher in Harford County, I have seen firsthand the stress and strain of teachers when not getting the support of the community and administrators. I am also a parent of two small children, one of whom is autistic. There needs a better balance of representation for parents and educators using common sense approach to creating good education policy.
Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.
Abraham Lincoln is a leader that I have admired for many years. Reading ‘A Team of Rivals’ showed his ability to navigate the political landscape during the Civil War. Lincoln dealt not only with insurgents but also those within his party with different political philosophies. Without his brilliance of knowing when to shove instead of push in the face of public opinion, it’s truly admirable.
What is the most important issue facing your school board and what would you do about it if elected?
Two major issues facing Harford County Public Schools: funding and support staff. Harford County has consistently been underfunded for many years even though it ranked among the best in education in Maryland. The pandemic and lack of equitable pay for support staff has resulted in losing support staffers for students with special needs. It has placed a heavier strain on teachers with large classroom sizes and are unable to give as much time needed for special needs students.
How concerned are you about school safety, and what if anything should be done to improve it?
While I don’t support the idea of guns on school grounds, I do support school resource officers as a measure of defense against school shootings. Funding and access to mental health professionals is a subject that needs serious discussion.
Do you have any concerns about the way history is taught in your district’s schools, and if so, what are they?
As a student of history, I do not find it comforting how people disregard events in the past. My biggest concern is historical facts being ignored solely because it’s not comforting or easy to understand. History is meant to be a tool to understand events, why they occurred, and the ultimate result of the events. To prevent proper teaching of history is to minimize society’s understanding of the past.
Do you think there are circumstances when books should be removed from school libraries, and if so, what kind of books should be removed?
The dynamics of school libraries has changed over the years to include not only academic materials, but also diverse coming of age stories that allow people can connect to. I do not support censorship of reading materials so as long as such materials are instructional. I do not believe books should be simply removed just because it contains instances that some people might not be comfortable reading.
