Antoine White

Running for school board in Calvert County District 2

How old will you be on Election Day (Nov. 5)?

53

Are you currently employed? If so, where, and what is your job title?

U.S. Naval Academy high voltage tech, Universal Mortgage & Finance Inc. (UMAFI) mortgage broker

What is the highest level of education that you completed, and where did you get that degree?

Journeyman line-tech, high voltage tech, College of Southern Maryland.

Why are you running for the school board?

I'm currently the president of Calvert County Board of Education.. I've served for 3.5 years during some of the most challenging times. I was educated and have a current student in Calvert County Public Schools. I'm running to continue to serve our students and staff. We are currently fifth in the state, but I know that there's still work to be done.

What makes you a good candidate for the board?

I have a proven record of ensuring that our students and staff are equipped for an ever-changing world. I believe that each student has different needs, and I believe that I must stay current with the newest methods of reaching them where they are.

What is the most important issue facing your school board and what would you do about it if elected?

Mental wellness and suicide are two issues that I've worked tirelessly to bring to the forefront, through a proclamation, the first mental wellness and suicide awareness walk, a photo gallery that features students and their stories of coping with and through difficult times.

Ensuring each student and staff member has a safe and accepting environment to learn no matter race, sexual orientation, religion, family dynamic or physical needs.

Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.

Barack Obama. He had a vision of what the United States and the world could be, and he took the steps to make that a reality. Despite all of the negativity and attacks, he stayed firm and became the first African American president of the United States.

He stayed true to his values and never let others define his ceiling. I admire his leadership style which is to build up not tear down.

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.

I believe that the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future shows that we value our students’ education and preparing each of them for the future. I believe that it also values our educators by ensuring that they are financially compensated. I have supported this plan for the past 3.5 years.

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?

I approved, and we have already implemented, one of the strongest cellphone policies in the state for the 2024-2025 school year. Cellphones are to be powered down during instruction times during the school day. There are specific guidelines for when they can be used outlined in our Code of Conduct. I support the policy for several reasons. I believe it limits distractions, stops unnecessary communication between students and takes the burden off of our staff to police cellphone usage.

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?

I'm very satisfied with our efforts to ensure the safety of our students. I voted to add more school resource officers to our system to ensure safety. I meet with our safety liaison and local sheriff department regularly to monitor status and prepare for the future. I believe communication and understanding with parents will improve school safety.

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?

I believe and trust in the educators and librarians who have the experience and education to ensure that appropriate books are in our libraries. We also have a committee if there's any objections to books. I also believe that parents should have the decision-making when it comes to their child. I believe that the superintendent and elected board should have the final decision.

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?

I believe that each student should be able to attend school without fear and be able to express their true selves. My responsibility is to ensure that each student has the same freedoms as students. I do agree with boundaries set by a school not to interfere with family matters.

Select another candidate