Josh Bokee
Running for school board in Frederick County
How old will you be on Election Day (Nov. 5)?
51
Are you currently employed? If so, where, and what is your job title?
Executive director, Connect.
What is the highest level of education that you completed, and where did you get that degree?
Master's in urban studies and planning; the University of Maryland, College Park.
Why are you running for the school board?
I would like to ensure that all students have the tools and support they need to succeed academically and be ready to successfully launch into life after graduation. Every student should attend a school that is safe (including free from bullying and harassment) and inclusive and has a positive learning environment. Every student, at every school, deserves the opportunity to receive the best education that is possible, helping them to reach new heights in achievement both professionally and personally in the future. We can only do this when we hire and retain high quality teachers and staff, have parents who are active partners and a community that is invested in and cares about our schools. I will never stop advocating and collaborating to help accomplish these priorities.
What makes you a good candidate for the board?
While in service within our community, I have learned the values of being both a strong advocate, as well as a determined collaborator. I will apply these skills for the resources that our schools need. As an Frederick County Public Schools parent, an active member of Frederick High School’s PTSA, a professional whose work is focused on closing the digital divide, and as a prior member of the city of Frederick’s Board of Aldermen (city council), I have also learned the need to listen first, communicate often and be thoughtful before taking action when striving for successful outcomes.
What is the most important issue facing your school board and what would you do about it if elected?
Frederick County is in the midst of a school construction funding crisis — unable to relieve both overcrowded classrooms and rebuild facilities that are beyond their useful life. As a member of the Board of Education, I will advocate for needed resources and collaborate with county and state officials for funding solutions that will accelerate school construction. This includes continuing to meet with state legislators and testifying in Annapolis on bills that will fix the funding formula for rapidly growing school districts such as Frederick County’s.
Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.
As a father of a blended family of three teenagers, one of whom is my stepdaughter; I believe it is critical that she sees women in positions of leadership and positive influence. Michelle Obama is one such example of a public leader who I find inspirational and who I would want my stepdaughter to be inspired by also. Ms. Obama has been a champion of women's rights, encouraged support for healthy families and advocated for the practice of servant leadership by people to help their communities be even better places to live. Ms. Obama has also been a consistent champion of the ability of all Americans to pursue higher education. Her focus on education and the importance that everyone has access to it is a reminder of why we need to ensure that our schools aim to be the best for every student.
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 offers the State’s first comprehensive plan to help every school and every student achieve success both academically and in preparation for life after graduation. The Blueprint was designed to narrow and eliminate existing achievement gaps among student populations, ensure the recruitment and retention of high-quality educators and help establish Maryland as the knowledge capital of the United States. Success in advocacy requires us to adopt these goals as well as understand what new challenges will arise. Challenges toward effective implementation include receiving adequate state and county funding, its complexity and how to ensure transparency with parents, teachers, staff and students and how to properly measure progress being made. Members of the Board of Education must be strong advocates for the needs of our Frederick County schools, especially for state funding to support Blueprint implementation. I will use my professional and prior experiences to serve as a strong advocate for every student at every school.
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?
FCPS is in the process of soliciting community input on passing a policy that would set uniform standards for the use of cellphones in elementary, middle and high schools. The district currently has a cellphone use code of conduct, which varies slightly by elementary, middle and high schools. The aim of this is to limit and/or prohibit cellphone use in the classroom so as to not distract from setting a positive learning environment. I believe the current Board of Education is taking the proper approach to ensure that there is broad parental and teacher and staff input before formalizing a cellphone use policy. While I do support limiting the use of cellphones in schools, it must be implemented thoughtfully and consistently, after stakeholder input has been received.
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?
Our local schools are overall very safe. However, the safety of all students, teachers and staff must be the first priority for Frederick County Public Schools leadership (including the school board) as well as teachers, staff and our community at large. Implementing best safety practices at every school is essential, and taking a regular system wide review of safety plans is critical. It is also essential to prevent incidents of bullying and harassment, including those that are racially motivated. Those who commit such acts must be appropriately held accountable. Our schools must strive to consistently foster positive, safe and inclusive learning environments, expecting the best of everyone.
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 support the protection of the freedom of all students to read age appropriate school books, while encouraging the development of critical thinking skills. I support the evaluation of school curriculum and reading materials by trained, professional educators, within a thoughtful and transparent process that involves both parents/guardians and members of our community, which FCPS currently has in place.
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?
Frederick County Public Schools enacted Policy 443 in 2017, which aims to create safe, welcoming and affirming schools for our transgender and gender nonconforming students. I support this policy and would protect against it being overturned. Gender identity is a protected status in Frederick County Public Schools and Policy 443 ensures that all personally identifiable and medical information relating to transgender and gender nonconforming students will be kept confidential according to federal, state and local privacy and student records laws (affording the same privacy rights as all students in the district).
