Amanda Jozkowski

Running for school board in Carroll County

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

40

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

Associate professor of occupational therapy and occupational science; Graduate Program director, Towson University. Licensed and registered occupational therapy practitioner in the state of Maryland.

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

Doctorate in occupational science, University of Southern California.

Why are you running for the school board?

As a parent of three school-aged children, I am deeply invested in the future of Carroll County Public Schools. I want to help our school system, which is at the heart of our community, remain strong and focused on the success of every student. My professional background as an occupational therapist and professor equips me with a unique perspective on child development, educational best practices, support services for students with learning and healthcare needs and the importance of inclusive, evidence-based policies.

In recent years, I have become increasingly concerned with the politicization of public education. Decisions that impact our children should be driven by data, best practices and the needs of our students and educators — not by partisan agendas. I want to eliminate division and distraction and refocus the board’s efforts on what matters most: ensuring that every student has access to a high-quality education that prepares them for life after graduation, whether that means college, career or other pursuits.

My campaign is centered on collaboration, community engagement, competence and care. I will advocate for board decisions to be made in the best interest of every student. By partnering with parents, educators, and community members, the Board of Education can evolve Carroll County Public Schools into a world-class school system where every educator feels supported, every child feels they belong and every family is heard. I humbly ask for your vote to serve our community and protect the public schools that make Carroll County such a great place to live and learn.

What makes you a good candidate for the board?

My experiences as a parent, educator and public education advocate qualify me to be an exceptional leader for our schools and are key reasons that my running mate Muri Lynn Dueppen and I are endorsed by both the Carroll County educators and school employee associations. As an occupational therapy professor with a research focus on therapeutic play and development, I have built deep connections with families navigating increasingly complex special education/accommodation policies and processes. I have a strong understanding of educational systems and education-related legislation at the local, state and federal levels, and have been a vocal proponent for issues including sufficient funding, teacher support and accessibility for many years.

I am also directly invested in the future of our school system as the parent of children who attend Carroll County Public Schools. I actively participate in school activities, serving on the parent-teacher association, two county-level committees, and volunteering in classrooms. My involvement gives me firsthand insight into the day-to-day challenges and opportunities in our schools.

My professional background equips me with the skills needed to measure and analyze data, build consensus, and make informed decisions. My leadership experience in strategic planning and budget management will help ensure that our schools are well-resourced and that taxpayer dollars are used effectively. I believe in listening to the community and being a voice for parents, educators and students.

My goal is to bring a balanced, thoughtful approach to the board, focusing on practical solutions that benefit all stakeholders in our community.

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

Students need a school environment in which they feel safe, supported and ready to learn. However, the intersection of classroom behavior, teacher support and student mental health (deeply interconnected factors that directly impact the quality of education) is a major challenge to this goal.

Classroom disruptions and bullying are increasingly driven by stressors that students face, such as mental health challenges and the overuse/misuse of technology — particularly social media and inaccurate or untrustworthy sources of information. These issues not only create barriers to learning, but also contribute to teacher burnout as educators struggle to manage behavioral issues while meeting academic demands. Understanding and addressing the root causes of behavior can help reduce harm to students and staff and create a more supportive school environment.

If elected, I will prioritize more comprehensive supports for both students and educators. This would include hiring more counselors, social workers and classroom support staff, and providing ongoing training for teachers on managing classroom behavior and recognizing early signs of mental health issues. I will advocate for continued partnership with school resource officers and the Sheriff's Office, and the integration of preventive measures in our disciplinary policies to keep students engaged and reduce the reliance on exclusionary practices such as seclusion. I will work to make sure educators are supported, by both administrators and school system policy, to effectively manage their classrooms without excessive paperwork or fear of injury or litigation.

Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.

Throughout her career, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg demonstrated the power of perseverance and principled leadership. Her work on the Supreme Court, particularly in the areas of gender equality and civil liberties, has had a profound impact on American society.

Justice Ginsburg’s ability to build consensus and her dedication to upholding the Constitution, even in the face of significant opposition, are qualities I deeply respect. She showed that one could be both firm in their convictions and open to dialogue and compromise. This balance is critical to effective public service and is a leadership style I aim to emulate.

As a Board of Education member, I will draw on Justice Ginsberg’s model of dedication to fairness, and her belief in the importance of equal opportunity, as I work to ensure that every student in Carroll County has access to a safe, inclusive and high-quality education.

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 represents a significant investment in the future of Maryland’s education system. Its focus on equity, accountability and excellence aligns with my values as well as the research on how best to support student success. Provisions for increased funding for high-needs students and emphasis on early childhood education and career readiness will help close achievement gaps and prepare students for life beyond high school. In Carroll County, the Blueprint will provide the resources needed to enhance educational offerings and pay teachers more competitively. I support the Blueprint’s goals and will work to align our district’’s budget and policies with its pillars.

While the Blueprint offers many benefits, its implementation will require careful planning and collaboration to overcome potential obstacles — just as with any large, long-term piece of legislation. I will work with local, state and federal leadership to advocate for sufficient and sustained funding and to address the logistical challenges of implementing new programs and practices across diverse school districts. The Carroll County Public Schools Board of Education must partner with the state to articulate the unique needs and values of our county, and request flexibility in implementation where feasible and appropriate.

If elected, I will seek to provide ongoing professional development and support to educators and staff to effectively implement Blueprint initiatives. Utilizing my background in program assessment and accreditation, I will work to monitor and evaluate the impact of Blueprint policies to confirm they are achieving the desired outcomes and make necessary adjustments as indicated.

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 support a balanced approach, recognizing both the potential benefits of phones/other devices, and the need to minimize distractions in the classroom.

Devices can be valuable tools for learning and communication, but they can also disrupt the educational environment if not managed appropriately. Parents are rightly concerned with the ability to contact their children in the event of an emergency — in the era of increased school violence, I understand this concern.

Carroll County Public Schools should implement a modern policy that allows devices to be used for educational purposes under teacher supervision, but restricts use and access during instructional time for non-academic activities. I will advocate for clearer guidelines on when/how devices can be used at school, and the consequences for violation of this policy.

Responsible technology use must also be reinforced at home, so educators can effectively monitor and respond to inappropriate device use while sustaining a focused learning environment.

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?

Ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all students is a top priority, and I believe we should continuously assess and update our safety measures. One area for improvement is the enhancement of mental health support and preventive strategies, which are proven to reduce the risk of both school violence and self-harm behaviors. By focusing on early intervention and providing students with the resources they need to manage stress, anxiety and other challenges, we can prevent many safety issues before they escalate.

I will work to create a culture of respect and mutual accountability at all levels in Carroll County Public Schools and support ongoing partnerships with local law enforcement to ensure that our schools are well-prepared for any potential threats. The Board of Education must maintain open lines of communication with parents and the community to build trust and make certain that everyone is informed and involved in keeping our schools safe.

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?

Books should be carefully curated by educational professionals, such as media specialists and teachers, who are trained to assess whether materials are developmentally appropriate and align with educational goals. While there may be rare instances where a book is deemed unsuitable for the school library, these decisions should be based on clear, consistent criteria focused on educational value, not on censorship or ideological preferences. The decision to remove a book should be made through a transparent process involving educators, administrators, and, when appropriate, with input from parents and students. I will work to ensure such decisions are made thoughtfully, considering the educational needs of every student. We must respect students' freedom to read developmentally appropriate materials that reflect accurate history and diverse viewpoints, and support parents’ right to limit their own child’s access to material they deem objectionable.

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?

School policies that allow transgender and gender nonconforming students to use their preferred pronouns while withholding this information from their parents are complex and should be carefully considered. On one hand, schools have a duty to create a safe and supportive environment for all students, which includes respecting their gender identity. For some students, disclosing preferred pronouns to their parents could lead to rejection or direct harm, which schools must avoid for both legal and ethical reasons.

However, I also believe in the importance of partnership between schools and families. Parents play the most critical role in their children's lives—their involvement is essential to a child’s healthy mental, emotional, and physical development. Ideally, schools should work to build trust with students and parents, facilitating conversations that respect the student's privacy and identity while also keeping parents informed in a way that supports their child's safety and well-being.

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