December 2018
Sworn in
Elected Chair of the Board’s Policy Committee
Appointed to the Legal Services Administration, Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE)
January 2019
Appointed to the Howard County Spending Affordability Committee
May 2019
Enacted new, more inclusive student-centered dress code policy (Policy 9210)
November 2019
Addressed overcrowded schools with comprehensive countywide redistricting, bringing all elementary and middle schools except one under 110% capacity per Board policy. Distributed enrollment across existing student seats in order to secure funding for High School #13, Hammond HS, and Talbott Springs ES.
December 2019
Elected Vice Chair of the Board
March-May 2020
Purchased Chromebooks for every student to use for virtual instruction during the pandemic
March-September 2020
As volunteer, worked with local sewers to buy fabric and elastic to make and distribute hundreds of facemasks during critical PPE shortages for healthcare workers
2019-2020
Modified, revised, and approved 20 of approximately 100 Board policies
Summer 2020
As volunteer Coordinator of Blessings in a Backpack at local elementary school, brought in funds to purchase, distribute food packs to 600 students a week across five schools with a cadre of volunteers in the midst of food shortages in the supply chain
August 2020
Followed the known science at the time and implemented virtual school to protect the health and welfare of students and staff
October 2020
Enacted first ever HCPSS Equity Policy (Policy 1080)
January 2021
Expanded school-based mental health services in partnership with Horizon Foundation grant
March 2021
Purchased outdoor dining tents for student health during the pandemic
June 2021
Record high graduation rates
2020-2021
Modified, revised, and approved 20 of approximately 100 Board policies
August 2021
Appointed to the MABE Blueprint Ad Hoc Committee
September 2021
Purchased portable air filters for every classroom to improve indoor air quality during the pandemic
December 2021
Appointed to Howard County Spending Affordability Committee for FY2023
January 2022
Board increases substitute teacher pay by 25%
February 2022
Passed new Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy (Policy 10250)
May 2022
Volunteer Community Impact Project for Girls on the Run to develop a playbook for implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion into their framework
Completed year-long Leadership Premier Course with Leadership Howard County
June 2022
Elimination of the nearly $50 million Health Fund Deficit two years ahead of schedule
2021-2022
Modified, revised, and approved 29 of approximately 100 Board policies
August 2022
New Talbott Springs Elementary School opens
Nearly double the school-based mental health programs to support students in partnership with Horizon Foundation grant
May 2023
$22 million allocated for renovation of Faulkner Ridge for early childhood center providing universal preK
2022-2023
Modified, revised, and approved 22 of approximately 100 Board policies
July 2023
Begin work on the Howard County Blueprint Resources Workgroup
August 2023
Opened Guilford Park High School, first new high school since 2005
Schools start with new, later school start time to help students
September 2023
Opened Hammond High School with new renovation and addition
November 2023
Appointed to statewide MABE Legislative Committee Chair
December 2023
Elected Chair of Howard County Board of Education
January 2024
Board appoints Bill Barnes Acting Superintendent
Board approves external review of transportation system failures
February-March 2024
Put in place new requirements to sign off on contracts for greater accountability
New financial controls put in place to deal with overspending on contracts
March 2024
Graduated with Certificate in Education Finance from Georgetown University