Mary Washington
Running for school board in St. Mary's County District 4
How old will you be on Election Day (Nov. 5)?
71
Are you currently employed? If so, where, and what is your job title?
St. Mary's County Board of Education is my full-time job for 27 years. I have been chair, vice chair and member. Currently, I am a member.
What is the highest level of education that you completed, and where did you get that degree?
Bachelor’s degree, University of Maryland, College Park.
Why are you running for the school board?
The Board of Education is my purpose, passion and “calling.” I have the education, work ethic, character, experience, energy, public service record, and love to do the job. A free strong public education is the foundation for democracy. In order to keep America as a world power, it is essential that America has a strong public education system where all students can thrive and realize their full potential and become contributing members of society. I want to continue my purpose, passion, “calling” and life’s work and diligently work with the superintendent and Board of Education members to promote a world-class education school system.
What makes you a good candidate for the board?
The Board of Education is my purpose, passion and "calling." I have the education, time, experience, energy, enthusiasm, character, corporate knowledge and love to continue being a Board of Education member. I am a committed and dedicated full- time Board of Education member since 1996. This has been my only job since 1996. I put my country first and think of others before self, to commit myself to doing my part to make America a stronger, better place for all citizens through a strong public education system. Before 1996, I was a parent volunteer working with teachers and students for seven years. I was recognized as the volunteer with the most volunteer hours of any volunteer. I know the value of a strong public education system from my previous work experience as a parent volunteer, jail social worker, licensed real estate agent, director of Religious Education at PAX River Naval Air Station, and secretary to the principal at a Department of Defense school in Germany, and a founding member of Leadership Southern Maryland. I am a world traveler, wife of a retired military officer, parent of two graduates of St. Mary’s County Public Schools, lifelong learner and consensus builder. I have visited every office and every school, attended a variety of schools and community events. I have attended Board of Education training at the national and state levels, served on various Maryland Association of Boards of Education committees, and earned Board Leadership Academy I and II certificates. I am approachable, accessible, accountable and actively engaged.
What is the most important issue facing your school board and what would you do about it if elected?
The most important issue facing the Board of Education is change. Change is the constant in education. With change usually comes unfunded mandates, where budgets have to be realigned to meet challenging, unpredictable and once-in-a-lifetime situations. I remain open-minded, flexible and resilient to timely, open and honest communication, listen to all sides of issues, explore possibilities, take action and reassess when necessary, timely and appropriate.
Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.
The Honorable Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. As a matter of fact, I was awarded the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024. Justice Ginsburg was the second woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Justice Ginsburg was a pioneer, visionary, fighter, unifier and tireless champion of justice. She was a role model to be emulated because she was reliable, respectful, responsible, strong, accountable, confident and a force to reckon with. She took care of her body, mind and spirit. She had a personal trainer until the last days of her life. Justice Ginsburg took a stand even if she had to stand alone. She worked tirelessly to the end of her life, and that is what I aspire to do.
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 10-year effort intended to improve the quality of public schools with the focus on five key areas. All five areas are vitally important. Even though $16.6 billion more in state funds from 2024 to 2029 seems like a sizable amount, it would not be sufficient to make all the mandated changes. Some current programs will have to be cut to meet the required mandates, and local revenues have been strained.
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?
St. Mary’s County Public Schools recognized cellphone use during the school day and its impact on learning, social emotional development and academic success. Valuing community input, a cellphone work group was established. Surveys were sent to parents, students and staff about the use of cellphones and electronic devices at schools. Also, public comments were given at the Board of Education meetings. It was determined that changes needed to be made. This is not only a county issue; it is also a national issue. We already had a policy, but our regulation needed updating. The findings of the work group were excellent. I support the new plan for elementary, middle and high school students including staff members. This change will focus on increasing learning and achievement, promoting a safe and orderly school, diminishing discipline referrals and nourishing more face-to-face contact with each other.
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?
Yes, and we are always in a continuous improvement mode to be more effective and efficient. Safety of students, staff, and community is a No. 1 priority of St. Mary’s County Public Schools. In order for students to effectively learn, we need to continue providing a safe, orderly, nurturing and accepting work and learning environment. We have safety and security officers, security vestibules, controlled access, exterior campus phones, climate surveys, safety drills, school resource officers, school psychologists, guidance counselors, “if you see something, say something” program, anonymous tip hotline and more. In addition, we have ongoing professional development and training in identifying students who need assistance. There are also partnerships with the Sheriff's Department, Maryland State Police, the Department of Social Services, the Health Department and other community partners. Are we perfect? No, but we are open to continuous improvement, new technologies and public input.
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?
If parents have concerns about a book and they do not wish for their child to read it, they can opt out, and their child will be given another option to read. Also, if a parent believes a book is not appropriate, we have a policy to express their opinion, and a review will be made. All textbooks are placed in the St. Mary's Public Libraries for citizens' review.
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?
As a Board of Education member, it is our obligation to follow all federal, state and local laws as written.
