Maisie T. Howard (write-in)
Running for school board in Anne Arundel County District 7
How old will you be on Election Day (Nov. 5)?
Candidate did not respond to this question.
Are you currently employed? If so, where, and what is your job title?
Anne Arundel County Public Library, library information resource staff.
What is the highest level of education that you completed, and where did you get that degree?
Law degree; health law; and master’s of health administration, Saint Louis University; bachelor of science in nursing from Truman State University.
Why are you running for the school board?
I am a proud Lothian, Maryland, resident, with over three decades of executive business experience across federal, state, local and commercial sectors. As an attorney, my expertise spans multiple business strategy and operations areas. I am deeply involved in our community and currently work at the Anne Arundel County Public Library.
My commitment to education is demonstrated through my service as the southern cluster representative to the Anne Arundel County Public Schools Superintendent’s Parents Advisory Council and the Board of Education Citizen Advisory Council. In these roles, I advocate for students, administrators, families and communities in South County. Alongside my husband, Mathew, I am heavily invested in the local education system, with our four children attending Anne Arundel County Public Schools in the southern cluster.
I am dedicated to community engagement, representation, parent advocacy and student rights, regularly participating in town halls and forums to ensure transparency and inclusivity in decision-making processes. My goal is to restore and strengthen collaborative partnerships with schools and families, fostering a collaborative environment where all voices are heard.
What makes you a good candidate for the board?
As a dedicated business leader and devoted parent, I have engaged actively with Anne Arundel County Public Schools, gradually advancing from volunteer roles to offering essential support for our students’ success. With a firm commitment to representing the parent voice in shaping policies, I am poised to serve as a strong advocate for District 7. Drawing from 14 years of volunteering experience and firsthand involvement with both special education and general tracks, I bring a wealth of insights to the table. Plus, my background in business operations, healthcare and law equips me with essential skills to accurately represent the diverse needs of our community and residents of District 7 on the Anne Arundel County Board of Education.
What is the most important issue facing your school board and what would you do about it if elected?
Collaboration with parents, teachers, students and community members is crucial. I will work to increase transparency and community engagement in decision-making processes, ensuring that the board is responsive to the needs and concerns of our diverse district.
Ultimately, my goal is to build a more resilient, equitable and supportive education system that empowers every student to thrive academically and personally.
Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.
Candidate did not respond to this question.
The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, passed by the General Assembly in 2021, is a 10-year plan that includes increased education funding to support early childhood education, increased teacher starting pay, college/career-readiness standards for high school graduates, and expanded services to multilingual and impoverished families, among other goals. Please tell us your views on the Blueprint and how it will affect your school district.
The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is a vital step toward ensuring equitable and high-quality education for all students in Anne Arundel County, District 7. Its focus on early childhood education, teacher pay, and support for multilingual and economically disadvantaged families aligns with our district’s needs.
Investing in early childhood education is crucial for closing achievement gaps before they widen. It will provide a solid foundation for students, particularly those from underserved communities. A forward-thinking school district understands to achieve our goals, we have to attract and retain professionals who are passionate about teaching. My entire life, my mother, a public school teacher, fought for higher and equitable compensation for women and teachers. It’s going to be an under-compensated, potentially difficult career. If we want the best geometry teachers to come to teach in Anne Arundel County Public Schools — knowing it’s an under-compensated and difficult career — we have to make it attractive to come and difficult to leave. If not salary, we should use our innovative and creative problem-solving skills to explore every potential opportunity to reduce out-of-pocket living expenses for teachers living and working in the county without taxpayer expense. We should be prioritize teachers.
The emphasis on college and career readiness ensures that high school graduates are well-prepared for life beyond the classroom, whether they choose to enter the workforce or pursue higher education. This is especially important in District 7, where we need to ensure that students have opportunities to succeed in various career paths.
Furthermore, the Blueprint’s focus on expanding services to multilingual families and those facing poverty will make our schools more inclusive. It is critical that every student, regardless of background, has access to the resources needed to thrive academically and socially.
While the Blueprint promises transformative changes, its success in District 7 will depend on local implementation and community engagement. We must ensure these funds are allocated effectively to address the unique challenges our district faces, such as transportation safety and infrastructure improvements. I am committed to advocating for the best use of resources to benefit all students in our community.
Some school districts nationwide are placing new limits on the use of cellphones in middle and high schools. What do you think should be the policy on student use of cellphones in your district, and why do you support that policy?
We are still too early to release a cellphone policy limiting use. We owe our students and Anne Arundel County Public Schools’ community the knowledge of managing digital tools in life. We teach digital classes — the cellphone is not the enemy. For many of us, it is our only computer .
This regulation fails students with special needs, rural students, students who thrive in virtual environments and potentially more. The Anne Arundel County Public Schools communications have only recently reached the point of being timely and not providing alerts after the event. Anne Arundel County Public Schools need more time to restore trust with parents and students before moving to no direct contact between parent and child.
I would also highlight the irony of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools mobile app being rolled out alongside the cellphone policy. How can I model the behavior you want from my child if you have me glued to the mobile app?
Are you satisfied with your school district's efforts to ensure the safety of its students? What, if anything, should be done to improve school safety in your district?
While our school district has made commendable efforts to ensure student safety, there is still room for improvement. One critical area is the transportation system, where enhanced safety measures are necessary to ensure the well-being of students during their commutes. We need to prioritize upgrading school bus safety protocols, including driver training and bus maintenance, as well as ensuring safer pick-up and drop-off zones.
Additionally, improving school infrastructure is essential to address safety concerns. This includes better surveillance systems, upgraded entry points and regular safety drills to prepare students and staff for emergencies. Another key area is as local communities create structured frameworks for mental health services, I will align with the Maryland Children’s Behavioral Roadmap, supporting a concerted effort to meet the mental health needs of our children at the local, county and state levels. Also expanding peer support programs and frameworks such as Mental Health First Aid, taught by the Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps, in partnership with the Mental Health Association of Maryland. I am evaluating the impact of Maryland Department of Health’s temporary halt on new enrollments in specific behavioral health programs under the Maryland Medicaid Program. We have families that may be impacted.
Do you think there are circumstances when books should be removed from school libraries? If so, what kind of books should be removed, and who should make those decisions?
Decisions regarding book removal should involve a balanced committee, including educators, librarians, parents and community members. This ensures that a broad range of viewpoints is considered before taking action. The committee should follow clear, objective guidelines to assess books, focusing on educational relevance and appropriateness for different age groups.
It is essential to maintain a diverse and inclusive library that reflects a wide range of experiences and ideas while protecting students from harmful content. Open dialogue and community involvement are key to making these decisions responsibly.
Some school districts enact policies allowing transgender and gender nonconforming students to use their preferred pronouns while at the same time not informing those students' parents about that decision. What is your opinion of such policies?
Candidate did not respond to this question.
