1. Do you support the HCPSS guidelines that transgender students will have access to restrooms, changing facilities, and sports in accordance with the student’s gender identity? Please explain your answer.

It is important to listen to the concerns from students and parents. Students should have access to privacy. For sports, I believe it is important to follow what the sport associations have decided for athletes as they are the experts on this issue.

2. Would you support a policy that codifies the guideline that requires HCPSS staff and non-official documents to use the name and pronouns that a student requests? Please explain your answer.

I support teachers treating students with dignity and kindness, which includes calling them by the name and pronoun they are asking to be called. However, I want to ensure this policy can’t be used punitively against staff when staff makes honest mistakes.

3. To what age groups (if any) is it appropriate for teachers and other staff members to disclose to students that they have LGBTQ+ family members or are in a same-sex relationship?

Teachers and staff shouldn’t feel like they have to hide who they are and their family unit.

4. What concerns, if any, do you have with students talking about themselves or family, friends, or community members related to being LGBTQ+?

Students shouldn’t feel like they have to hide who they are and their family unit.

5. Should curriculum be revised to include reference to LGBTQ+ individuals, including the fact or possibility that the individuals were LGBTQ+ identified. If yes, what (if any) is the minimum grade level at which these changes should be made? Please explain your answer.

Howard County schools are required to follow state curriculum and COMAR which provides guidance on this issue for the schools.

6. Should curriculum be revised to include reference to LGBTQ+ themed works of literature, art, and media, and if yes, what (if any) is the minimum grade level at which this should be done? Please explain your answer.

Howard County schools are required to follow state curriculum and COMAR. I believe students benefit by having diverse perspectives and curriculum to develop critical thinking and empathy for others.

7. Should HCPSS make sure schools continue to offer access to LGBTQ+ student clubs like GSAs to their students? At what levels (High? Middle? Elementary?) should this happen? Please explain your answer.

Students in middle school and high school who want clubs that provide a safe place and help finding peers who treat them with kindness and friendship are important during the teenage years and can help promote kindness for all our students.

8. Do you support the continued funding of programs for LGBTQ+ students at HCPSS such as employing an LGBTQ initiatives specialist and rainbow representatives within the schools? Please explain your answer.

I support programs that are helping to promote kindness, reduce bullying, and improve mental wellness for students. I will advocate for the County to fully fund the schools at historic levels.

9. What changes would you like to see made to the way HCPSS handles identification, reporting, interventions, and prevention of bullying?

Gracie’s Law has provided good guidelines for schools to follow. I support ensuring that administrators are well trained in the process for addressing bullying to ensure it is being followed consistently. Parents and students should be informed on what to do if they believe that current bullying policies is not being followed in their school.

10. What measures should the school system take to prevent suicide among the student body?

I advocated for the Lifesavers School Program legislation in Annapolis to recognize schools that offer students and staff training in CPR/First Aid and Mental Wellness/Peer Mentorship programs. This bill was supported by the teacher’s union, mental health groups, and student mental health advocates. Students can use their community service hours and teachers can use their professional development hours. There are many free mental wellness programs that Maryland Department of Education has complied for schools to use. I would support seeing this training and programs in our schools to help empower students to save each other and improve our community.

11. HCPSS has a diverse student population with regard to race, ethnicity, country of origin, immigration status, socioeconomic status, disability, family structure, etc. What roles do you think these intersectional identities should play in the school system’s policies and practices in supporting LGBTQ+ students?

I believe students benefit by having diverse perspectives to develop critical thinking and empathy for others.

12. HCPSS has guidelines for gender inclusion (found in https://www.hcpss.org/f/supports/gender-inclusive-guidelines.pdf). Do you support these guidelines and would you vote in favor of a policy that codifies these guidelines? Please explain your answer.

I support them as guidelines as this is about ensuring our students have a safe, kind, and inclusive school environment. I support following federal law.

13. What are your views on training all staff on LGBTQ+ and other diversity related issues?

If teachers feel that there is need and asking for training on LGBTQ+ and other diversity related issues, I support that.

14. How should the school system deal with requests for book removal? How do you prevent those requests from disproportionately affecting LGBTQ+ themed books?

The new Right to Read Act passed in the 2024 session provides guidelines for schools to have consistency and clear guidelines for schools to follow to address book removal. The schools should make sure they are communicating clearly, effectively to the community the policy. The Maryland federal courts have also ruled on LGBTQ+ themed books that provides further guidance for schools.