Erica McFarland
Candidate in May 14 primary
Nonpartisan
Pasadena
Age: 45 on day of General Election (Nov. 5)
Occupation: Office manager
Education:
Previous political experience: none
Why are you running for office?
I am running for office because I feel I can make a difference in our schools and our community. I am thoughtful in listening to concerns, engaging in conversation, and in collaboratively coming up with creative and effective solutions when issues arise. I can see the good in every person, but I also see some division and misunderstanding of each other. I’d like to be the bridge that brings us together. I truly believe that simply put, we all just want what’s best for our children. Let’s work together with open hearts and minds for our students. I know that given the necessary education and tools, our kids can make the world a better place. I want to support that. I want to be a part of that. Helping our children to rise to challenges, come up with creative solutions and watching them soar would make me so proud.
What is the most important issue facing Anne Arundel Public Schools?
Currently, the greatest need is staffing. We need to have enough mental health professionals, special education educators, nurses, food service workers, bus drivers, and all other positions that are critical to the needs in our schools. In order to do this, we need to offer competitive pay in today’s market and foster a positive work environment where our staff feels valued. I recently learned that our school nurses, who are employed through Anne Arundel County Department of Health, are not even earning a living wage and do not have the same benefits afforded to Anne Arundel County Public School employees. I believe that all of our staff should be paid a living wage and have equal benefits. Investment in our staff is returned to us in full in their investment in the future of our children and our community.
Are there instances where books should be removed from school libraries, and if so, what kinds of books and why?
I trust our educators and librarians to choose a wide range of age-level books that reflect the diversity of our student population. Reading instills a love for learning, develops a creative imagination, challenges our mindset, supports us through tough times, and teaches us about the world around us. We are all unique in what speaks to us and we have the choice to read a book or leave it on the shelf, but we need to maintain diversity in book choices so that we all have access to the books that spark our interest. I believe in the freedom of choice in reading material.
What are your views on the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education reforms and how would you approach working with the changes it will bring?
The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future keeps at its heart that the education of our children is paramount to our future. It prioritizes education, beginning with our youngest learners, and works to ensure equity, readiness for the next steps along the way, and aims to attract and retain a diverse set of quality educators. Of course, even with the best thought out plan, oversight is required to make sure that it is being implemented in a way that produces the desired result. As the Blueprint rolls out, especially when there are so many needs in our schools vying for funding, we will need to be mindful to think creatively, course correct as needed, and put in a lot of hard work. But I firmly believe that all of our effort will pay off as we see our students succeed.
How would you approach attracting and retaining teachers for the school system?
I am very interested supporting a Grow Your Own Educator program. Programs like this attract prospective teachers in our own communities through partnerships between school districts, colleges, and community organizations. Besides providing wrap-around services and financial support, it encourages diversity in the workforce that reflects the diversity of the student population. We also need to prioritize making sure that our current staff has the tools they need to be successful. We should leverage all of our resources, including advocating in our county and state government, to ensure that we have affordable housing so that those who work in our community can also afford to live in our community.
How would you approach ensuring the school system is an equitable place for students and staff?
Care should be taken to ensure that everyone in our school system has the tools they need to be successful. With each decision, I am thoughtful in thinking about who it benefits and who might be left behind. A quality education should be afforded to everyone, regardless of their financial situation, their home life, disabilities, or any other barriers. We need to be mindful that we are not all starting from the same place, with the same tools at our disposal. Equity in education ensures that no matter where a person is starting from, each is given what is necessary to succeed. I will always be mindful to ensure equity for our students and staff.
Editor’s note: Baltimore Sun Media received this candidate’s responses on March 9.
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