Category: Q & A with Board Candidates

Q & A with Robert Johnson, District 5 Board of Education Candidate

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p11893ta105407_5Robert Johnson is one of four candidates from District 5 (see district map here) whose names will be on the ballot in the April 26th primary election. Mr. Johnson answered questions generated by members of Prince George’s County Advocates for Better Schools. 

Prince George’s County Advocates for Better Schools does not endorse or oppose any candidate for the Board of Education.

Tell us about your background and why you are running for the Board of Education.

I have been a resident of Prince George’s County since 1994. I live in the city of Bowie with my wife and two daughters. Currently I serve as Campus Director at ITT Technical College in Springfield, VA. Previously I have served as a classroom teacher in Prince George’s county, administrator, principal, and various leadership positions in higher education for over 16 years. I have earned a certificate of completion of SUPES Academy Chicago with a focus on Urban School Leadership, Education Policy and Administration. I hold an advanced Graduate certificate in Educational Leadership and Supervision from the University of the District of Columbia, Masters of Education degree in Special Education at Bowie State University, and a Bachelors of Arts degree at State University of New York at Albany. However even with all my degrees in education, I realize it is now time to serve the community of which I have been a long time resident. I truly believe Prince Georges County Public Schools can accomplish great things in education with the right type of leadership. I am a new candidate, with new ideas, new direction and strong leadership.

What are your top three goals for PGCPS, and how do you plan to accomplish them if elected?

As candidate for District 5 School Board Member I am looking to accomplish many goals, however my top three goals are:

  1. Reduce classroom size
  2. Make our schools safer
  3. Improve college acceptance rates for all students

What experience do you have working with parents or parent organizations, and how will you increase parent engagement with the system? 

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Q & A with Cheryl Landis, District 5 Board of Education Candidate

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image_cherylLandisThis is part of a series of interviews with PGCPS Board of Education candidates. Cheryl Landis is one of four candidates from District 5 (see district map here) whose names will be on the ballot in the April 26th primary election. Ms. Landis answered questions generated by members of Prince George’s County Advocates for Better Schools. 

Prince George’s County Advocates for Better Schools does not endorse or oppose any candidate for the Board of Education.

Tell us about your background and why you are running for the Board of Education.

I made the decision over ten years ago that upon my retirement from Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS), I would transition to an elected member of the Board of Education. On November 1, 2016, I will retire from PGCPS with 27-years of uninterrupted service. Why am I running for the Board of Education? It is my PASSION and my PURPOSE. Each and every step that I have taken since my initial employment with PGCPS in 1989 has successfully prepared me for the position I seek as an elected member of the Board of Education. I am prepared and committed to serving and supporting outstanding educational outcomes for our students.

37 years 1979-present Prince George’s County volunteer, community organizer, activist, servant leader
27 yrs

  • 17 yrs
  • 10 yrs
  • 06 yrs
 1989-present

  • 1989-2006
  • 2006-present
  • 2010-present
 Prince George’s County Public Schools’ Employee

  • Executive Administrative Officer, Board of Education
  • Strategic Business Partnerships Specialist
  • Administrator, Excellence in Education Foundation for PGCPS, Inc.
10 years 2006-present Member, Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committee, Chair (2014-present)
10 years 2014-present Chair, Education/Workforce Development Committee, Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce

What are your top three goals for PGCPS, and how do you plan to accomplish them, if elected?

I have worked for 37 years as a servant leader committed to improving the quality of life for all Prince Georgians. The past 27 years has been in public education, working with numerous boards of education, both elected and appointed. For 17 years (1989-2006), I was the Executive Administrative Officer to the very same Board of Education to which I seek election. And, for the past 10 years (2006-present), I serve as the school system’s Strategic Business Partnerships Specialist. My entire tenure with PGCPS is unique in and of itself as I have worked in only two (2) critical positions, both of which have successfully prepared me to serve as an elected member of the Board of Education. Because of my many years of service, I have developed the intellectual capacity that is needed to be an “effective” Board Member. I understand the critical importance of being collaborative and developing relationships with all stakeholders. This has given me a very unique lens through which I will serve the students, parents, and families.

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Q & A with Jeana Jacobs, District 5 Board of Education Candidate

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Jeana Jacobs Turquoise Standing1This is part of a series of interviews with PGCPS Board of Education candidates. Verjeana Jacobs is running for re-election to the Board as one of four candidates from District 5 (see district map here) whose names will be on the ballot in the April 26th primary election. Ms. Jacobs answered questions generated by members of Prince George’s County Advocates for Better Schools. Leading up to the election, we will publish responses from other candidates as well.

Prince George’s County Advocates for Better Schools does not endorse or oppose any candidate for the Board of Education.

Tell us about your background and why you are running for the Board of Education.

I am an Attorney, Licensed Consultant by Maryland Nonprofits Standards for Excellence Institute, and trained Mediator by the American Arbitration Association. I have over 25 years in public service working with multiple complex bureaucracies including non-profit organizations, government/quasi-government agencies, urban education systems and labor unions. Working with diverse stakeholders, I support group identification of a shared agenda and always seize opportunities to build respect and trust. In various leadership roles whether as Chair of one of the largest school districts (Prince George’s County), in the United States for almost six years, President of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education, or as Vice Chair of the National School Boards’ Council of Urban Boards of Education, I have been effective in bringing divergent stakeholders to the table to tackle contentious, yet necessary issues with the focus on improving the quality of education.

I am running for re-election to continue to strongly advocate on behalf of students, parents, teachers and others who work tirelessly with our students. There is still work to do to continue to fight to reduce overcrowded classrooms, ensure services for our special needs students, and help to empower parents be the best advocates for their children. This is my life’s work. I care deeply about student success. 

What are your top three goals for PGCPS, and how do you plan to accomplish them if elected?

My goals for the next term are to (1) Ensure accountability of student based budgeting so that schools get their fair share of the nearly $1.8 billion dollar budget allocated for the school district; (2) Continue to fight for Pre-Kindergarten for ALL students; (3) Continuous improvement of neighborhood schools, to include special education services

I will accomplish these goals through joint community effort. I will continue to find ways to empower families to be the best advocates developing strategies to resolve problems and achieve results – one issue at a time. In addition, I will continue to do the work necessary to be an effective board member – engage stakeholders at all levels, and collaborate with my board colleagues and the CEO through policy development and best practices.

What experience do you have working with parents or parent organizations, and how will you increase parent engagement with the system?

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Q & A with Raaheela Ahmed, District 5 Board of Education Candidate

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imageThis is the first in an ongoing series of interviews with PGCPS Board of Education candidates. Raaheela Ahmed is one of four candidates from District 5 (see district map here) whose names will be on the ballot in the April 26th primary election. Ms. Ahmed answered a series of questions generated by members of Prince George’s County Advocates for Better Schools. Leading up to the election, we will publish responses from other candidates as well.

Prince George’s County Advocates for Better Schools does not endorse or oppose any candidate for the Board of Education.

 

Tell us about your background and why you are running for the Board of Education. 

My name is Raaheela and I am a lifelong Prince Georgian and resident of Bowie who is a product of Prince George’s County’s public elementary, middle and high schools. I hold degrees from the University of Maryland in Finance and Economics. I am running for the School Board because I feel that my current and fresh perspectives will have a positive impact on the District in improving student success. I believe in the potential of our students and will work hard to ensure that our students are not only college and career ready, but also culturally competent and globally competitive. My professional experience as a federal financial consultant for the Department of Homeland Security, boardroom experience on the University System of Maryland Board of Regents, and volunteer work focused on enhancing the lives and education of our county’s students (America Reads*America Counts, Health Leads, Moneythink Maryland, and Court Appointed Special Advocate) enhance my effectiveness as your representative on the board. Together we can ensure a bright future for our children and our communities!

What are your top three goals for PGCPS, and how do you plan to accomplish them if elected?

Community Engagement:

I believe in the statement: It takes a village to raise a child. This proverb highlights the need for collaborative effort in making change….the necessity of not one, but several caring individuals and institutions in human growth and development. K-12 education systems are grounds for this kind of development. Whether we like it or not, our schools are responsible for teaching hard subjects like math and science as well as intangible skills like work ethic and acceptable societal behaviors. It takes effort from all stakeholders in building our schools and our community. That is why efforts to encourage parental involvement in schools and develop partnerships with local universities and businesses are important to the progress of our schools and students. To encourage community engagement, I’d like to spearhead the establishment of active formal parent-teacher organizations in all schools, corporate partnerships to provide internship and other academic opportunities for our students, and personally engaging in community outreach as I have been doing on the campaign trail.

Transparency and Accountability:

Prince George’s County has a history of corrupt elected figureheads, mismanagement of money and general public distrust. In order to overcome these issues and thrive as a community, both transparency and accountability must be prioritized. I believe fiscal transparency is needed with the school budget so that individuals know not only how their taxpayer dollars are being spent, but whether that spending has a good return on investment given demographic metrics (test scores, graduation rates, etc.) I support having a thorough evaluation of our academic programs. Understanding what works and what doesn’t will allow PGCPS to align resources and funding efficiently and increase academic excellence. Additionally, I’d like to see more advanced technology use in sharing detailed information, similar to the UNC Data Dashboard.

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