BIOGRAPHY:
Current member of the Carroll County Board of Education; BS, MPS Cornell University (Animal Science, Agricultural Education); 7 years experience in small business; 20+ year resident of Carroll County; Parent of 2 children currently enrolled in Carroll County Schools; Active in community organizations; Current Biology Teacher Littlestown High School (22 years)
A1:
Just as our classes are individually tailored to meet the needs of students, so our schools must be tailored to meet the needs of our various communities. While there is a common curriculum throughout our school system, schools must be allowed to offer individual programs that their unique communities wants and needs.
A2:
A combination of reading, research and open discussions with involved people on all sides of an issue.
A3:
For elementary and high school construction, state participation is essential. At the middle school level, the state uses very different formulas than the county to establish capacity. Consequently, new middle schools rarely receive state funding. Hopefully the state will update its antiquated capacity formula. With declining enrollment, emphasis should be on modern...
A4:
Students are held accountable for off campus illegal behavior through extra-curricular eligibility. Students participating in extra-curriculars agree to refrain from illegal behaviors when they represent their schools. The constructive possession portion of this policy should be periodically reviewed to meet the community standards. The size of the schools...
A5:
We must continue to offer a competitive salary. However, it takes more than salary to retain quality educators. We must reduce class size. Classes with 35 or more are not beneficial for students or teachers. We must address planning time particularly for elementary teachers. We need to refrain from pulling teachers from their classes…
A6:
Improving the performance of the under-achieving (and sometimes under-motivated) students is a constant challenge. Success requires a combination of reasonable class sizes and interventions when students fail to meet benchmarks. Reduced class sizes enable teachers to tailor instruction to individual needs. Intervention programs must be regularly evaluated...
