The Assignment Is Bigger Now

Advancing from the primary election gave me a moment to thank God, celebrate and breathe. Then came the reality: the assignment just got bigger.

During the primary, much of my focus was introducing myself by sharing who I am, why I entered this race and what more than 25 years in Prince George’s County Public Schools has taught me about education, leadership and the systems that support our scholars.

Advancing to the general election changes the conversation. It is no longer enough to explain why I am running. This next season requires me to be even clearer about how I would serve.

There is a difference between leading within a school system and governing one.

Every day, I work on the implementation side. Policies, budgets, staffing decisions, curriculum expectations, state requirements, and system priorities eventually make their way to schools. My responsibility as a principal is to take those decisions and lead the work of turning them into meaningful experiences and outcomes for children.

Board service requires a different lens.

The Board establishes policy, approves budgets, provides oversight, listens to the community, asks difficult questions, and holds the system accountable for results. Effective governance requires knowing when to question, when to listen, when to act, and when to allow those responsible for implementation to do their jobs. That difference is important.

I am not seeking a seat on the Board to become a principal of the school system. I am seeking the opportunity to bring what I have learned from implementing decisions into the room where those decisions are made because I know what it feels like when a policy reaches a school and works.

I also know what it feels like when the intent is good, but the resources, time, staffing, or structures necessary for implementation do not reach the people expected to carry it out. That experience will shape the questions I ask.

To be clear, this next phase is not about me. The primary required people to learn my name. The general election requires me to learn even more about the people I will represent. District 9 is not one community, one school, one neighborhood, or one set of experiences. Families can live within the same district and experience the same school system very differently.

I want to hear from parents whose children are thriving and those who are struggling. I want to hear from educators about what helps them do their best work and what gets in the way. I want to hear from students about what school feels like from their seats.

I want to hear from families of students with disabilities and multilingual learners. I want to hear from families who have been part of PGCPS for generations and those who are just beginning their journey with us. I also want to hear from residents who may not have children in our schools but understand that the strength of our public schools affects the strength of our entire community. Why? Because listening is a critical part of leadership.

James 1:19 instructs us to be “swift to hear, slow to speak.” Twenty-eight years in education have given me experience but not every answer. My experience allows me to ask informed questions, recognize patterns, understand implementation and know when something deserves a deeper look. Listening allows me to understand what I cannot see from where I sit. Both are important.

The primary was about stepping forward. This season is about going deeper.

Deeper into the issues.

Deeper into our communities.

Deeper into the experiences of students, families, educators and staff.

Deeper into understanding what responsible Board governance requires.

And deeper into the preparation necessary to serve well when the voters of District 9 entrust me with that responsibility.

I entered this race believing I was being called to serve in a different way. Advancing to the general election did not complete the assignment. It made it bigger.

So I move forward grateful for every person who helped me get this far, humbled by the responsibility ahead and committed to doing the work necessary to be prepared for what comes next.

Because the goal was never simply to win an election.

The ultimate goal is to be ready to serve.