By Adam Pagnucco.
Yesterday, I introduced this series by discussing my intentions in assembling this short questionnaire. Today, let’s begin with the most sweeping question I asked.
Question: What is MCPS’s biggest problem and what would you do to fix it?
Lynne Harris, At-Large (Incumbent): I think the biggest need is for systemwide implementation – in all areas of work and all Offices, Departments and Divisions – of progress and quality assurance monitoring that is baked into the work, Standard Operating Procedure, focused on the work of teaching and learning, with a culture of proactive collaboration, instead of defensiveness and blame.
MCPS has had a tough year. From my perspective, given the restoration that is happening, and renewed focus on central support for schools, we need humble leadership that appreciates the good work happening, does far more asking than telling, and creates system-wide systems of accountability in which everyone sees the importance of the work they are doing, and is unafraid to share progress and outcomes – good, bad, indifferent – so we can keep the focus on things that are working, and adapt things that aren’t.
Sharif Hidayat, At-Large: The biggest problem I see with MCPS is that schools are not structured in a manner that allows for learning anymore. Teachers have to deal with a whole host of issues before they can even start the teaching process. One major issue is the use of cell phones during academic instruction. If elected, I would have a policy limiting the use of cell phones during academic instruction. Also, I would restore the original School Resource Officer program back into the schools to ensure students, teachers and staff have a safe learning environment.
Melissa Kim, At-Large: No response
Jonathan Long, At-Large: The MCPS board needs to restore confidence in their oversight of the superintendent and the budget. School staff are demoralized by the previous superintendent’s lack of transparency and divisive approach to engaging with staff and other stakeholders on issues from hiring practices to training and work life balance. The school’s legal bills have ballooned over the last few years because of this confrontational approach. That includes the superintendent’s own severance package after being terminated for her poor stewardship. From a budgeting perspective, there needs to be more engagement with tax payers and the County Counsel who have concerns about how funds from the recent tax increase are being used.
Overall, the board needs to work to repair this damage and engage with various stakeholders to regain their confidence.
Fitzgerald Mofor, At-Large: Montgomery County Public School’s biggest problem is the educational learning loss post-pandemic. We’ve seen a 31.8% decrease in math proficiency in grades three to eight from 2019 to 2021. Montgomery Village Middle School, a Title I school where 95.6% of students are minorities, has only 5% proficiency in math, according to the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). To restore MCPS’s status as a premier school district, we need to ensure that every student in Montgomery County Public Schools has access to a strong education. This can be accomplished by attacking the achievement gap at the onset of early childhood education through expanded Pre-K funding, extended learning opportunities after school, broader funding for math tutors, and increased opportunities for individualized learning.
Rita Montoya, At-Large: MCPS’ biggest problem is a lack of community trust. This lack of trust has negative impacts on budget allocations; hiring and retention of administrators, educators, and support staff; and enrollment and family engagement. All of this adversely impacts student advancement, achievement and success. If elected, I will model accountability, leadership, oversight, and transparency to rebuild trust in MCPS by students, families, educators, staff, administrators, community members and elected officials. I will work and collaborate with others towards the timely and accessible release of vital information. I will work to establish open lines of communication with local and state elected officials as well as community partners to ensure a collaborative approach to improving MCPS.
Brenda Diaz, District 2: MCPS’s significant challenge is the poor learning environment cultivated by limitations imposed by the Board of Education and Central Office. Reports of increased disruptive behavior and assaults among students underscore the urgency to restore a safe and immersive learning atmosphere. A critical evaluation of the Student Code of Conduct will examine the effectiveness of restorative justice practices in addressing violence. Additionally, my plan proposes reinstating School Resource Officers (SROs) in consultation with MCAAP, recognizing diverse viewpoints. Transferring qualified Central Office staff to schools aims to reduce class sizes, prioritizing resources for direct student support. This strategy reflects responsible resource allocation to enhance learning environments. To improve teacher morale and retention, open forums and one-on-one meetings will provide opportunities for teachers to voice their experiences and concerns. Instances of mistreatment, such as the Beidelman incident, will not be tolerated. Overall, the plan aims to address disciplinary issues, enhance safety, allocate resources effectively, and support teacher well-being, with the ultimate goal of revitalizing students’ passion for learning.
Ricky Fai Mui, District 2: MCPS needs competent leaders that understand how to properly manage a $3.3 Billion Dollar Enterprise; where 60% of operating costs are borne by MoCo Taxpayers. The scale of MCPS is truly something to behold; where there are 164,000 silent stakeholders (students); a large population of parents seeking to comprehend how their children’s needs are met under MCPS’ care, and an increasing population of front-line educators that feel their voices, concerns, needs remain unanswered. A proper business requires leaders that understand when, where, how and by whom finances are spent; there must be metrics, a person accountable for tracking expenditures, and an expectation of return.
Business Experience. I bring a background in streamlining processes; with over 5 years of experience reducing risk and increasing productivity for multiple federal agencies as a consultant.
Competent Leadership. I leverage over a decade’s worth of leadership as a Navy Officer. I led Sailors across the globe, leading experimental projects, and coordinating international relationships; where a measure of compassion is mixed with preparation in understanding multiple perspectives.
Academic Comprehension. I developed and taught training plans for thousands of Sailors; and more recently, for hundreds of Customers Service Representatives that support call centers for a federal agency.
Rebecca Smondrowski, District 2 (Incumbent): There are multiple issues impacting our current educational landscape that need immediate attention. Most urgent is Improving academic performance within MCPS by focusing on math and reading skills. MCPS is here to educate students. We need to ensure all our efforts are focused and dedicated on improving learning outcomes for our students. To support a commitment to academic achievement, we need to hire a superintendent who not only has a strong background in elevating student outcomes, but also deeply understands the unique needs of our diverse student body. It is also essential that the board has oversight in implementing the recommendations of the OIG, and the recommendations made by experts related to the enhancement and restructuring of OHRD and Compliance and Investigations.
We need to build trust with the public and our staff and continue to work on the climate in each of our schools to eliminate distractions that take our focus away from teaching and supporting students.
Aby Thioye, District 2: MCPS’s biggest problem is that it is failing in its stated mission “to ensure every student has the academic, creative problem solving, and social emotional skills to be successful in college, career and community, regardless of his or her background.” Statistics show that on the whole, academic success is falling with each passing year. To obscure this reality, MCPS has tried social promotion and lowering standards but this only exacerbates the problem.
There are many reasons for MCPS’s failure but I will point to two. Most fundamentally, many key actors, including members of the school board, care more about their careers and influence than educating our children. This is what has led directly to a series of bad choices, scandal, mismanagement, lack of transparency, and ultimately, a betrayal of our responsibilities to our students, their parents, and taxpayers.
Second, MCPS has lost its focus on its mission as a result of fashionable yet dubious notions such as the idea that the primary purpose of public education is to ensure that children feel “included” or that their safety should be sacrificed so as to avoid the hurt feelings or other consequences that result from enforcing discipline.
As a remedy to failing academics, I will address the underlying illness by demanding accountability and cleaning house when it comes to those who sacrificed our children’s interests for their careers, and for restoring an educational philosophy that truly serves MCPS’s stated mission.
Natalie Zimmerman, District 2: MCPS is currently facing an accountability crisis. MCPS has processes in place to hold teachers accountable through the Peer Assistance and Review Program within the Professional Growth System. This system could be replicated for every employee in the district. It is our job to hold each other accountable. Accountability does not only come from the top down, but from all directions. All educators in MCPS should be given opportunities for high-quality professional development to build capacity and leadership, which will in turn increase their accountability. If we fix the accountability problem, we will be in a better position to support and educate students in Montgomery County Public Schools.
Shebra Evans, District 4 (Incumbent): In my opinion, improving outcomes for students is the most important issue. The Board has directed the superintendent to use every board meeting to discuss how MCPS is progressing on improving outcomes for students in math and literacy. The transitional years (grades 3, 6, and 9) are our focus. The school system is not serving all students well. Having ongoing discussions at the board table to look at data and identify problems and/or acknowledge successes will be important. Additionally, it will be important to further improve the communication infrastructure to build more trust and improve the ways in which families receive pertinent information. Recent events have highlighted the need for improvements in the Department of Compliance and Investigation (DCI). Mistakes were made. Corrections are underway for creating a standard procedure for receiving and handling complaints, including anonymous complaints. There is someone with extensive legal and investigative experience overseeing and implementing the changes in DCI. A new electronic system will be used to track and monitor all cases. These are just a few examples of the very important work currently in motion. I am committed to my work on the board and will ensure we carry out the remainder of the recommendations and keep the community apprised with regular updates.
Bethany Mandel, District 4: There are many problems within MCPS: falling test scores, rising violence, wasted spending, soaring absenteeism. But the root cause of all of these issues is the fact that the entire system is without checks and balances. Everyone within the system are friends and in a political alliance; the goal is professional advancement instead of student well-being and achievement. The fix from me is simple: I am not one of them. I am not part of the machine, I have no aspirations to become one of them. I am the squeaky wheel the system needs to have some semblance of accountability.
Laura Stewart, District 4: My priority is addressing students’ basic needs so they can reach their potential—whether those needs are educational, physical, or emotional. To improve outcomes, MCPS must reform systems and structure from the top down. For example, human resources failed to provide a safe environment for employees, which in turn affects our classrooms. I would also suggest family and student navigators to help break through MCPS bureaucracy. A needs assessment should be performed across all schools so that resources are targeted appropriately.
We should triage by focusing resources on third grade literacy in order to set up kids for success, as the Black and Brown Coalition covered at their town hall. There is research that shows reading proficiency can also improve other skills like math. I would ask MCPS to deploy intervention teams to schools that show either large numbers of children not meeting reading benchmarks or schools that show a very large gap between the socioeconomic and racial groups. We should include after school and engaging summer learning opportunities through nonprofits and other county resources. At the secondary level, we must provide more targeted teacher and principal support, high quality tutoring, and wrap around services to help close opportunity gaps.
Next: experience with budgets.