Letter to the editor

As published Jan. 16, 2008

Candidate for Carroll Co. Board of Education

My name is Jennifer Seidel. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as a candidate for the Carroll County Board of Education.

With my husband and our two children, I reside in southwest Carroll County in the Town of Mt. Airy. My son is a second grade student at Parr’s Ridge Elementary School. My daughter will attend kindergarten there next year.

Over the last few years I have been a stay-at-home mom, working part-time writing teacher and student materials. I hold a master’s degree in school administration and supervision, and before my children were born, I worked for years as a classroom teacher. I’ve also had the wonderful opportunity in recent years to teach preschool.

Teaching is my passion. I have worked with children of all ages. I have worked with parents, fellow teachers, support staff and administrators. Teaching has fulfilled my dreams. It is my love of school that has inspired me to run for a seat on the Board of Education.

The children of our county can’t help but achieve greatness if they also love school. By ensuring that they have a challenging curriculum, facilities that foster learning, and adults around them to support them, our children will succeed. The Board of Education plays a critical role in providing these opportunities.

I believe that involvement of all stakeholders is imperative. This includes parents. At the school level, my husband and I feel a part of our child’s learning experience. The administrators and teachers at his school have done an outstanding job of creating a community. As a member of the Board of Education, it would be my goal for parents to feel part of the process at all levels from the local school to the Board of Education.

At this time we are faced with the challenge of ensuring that our schools are staffed with top-notch teachers. Carroll County schools are well known for their strong teaching staff. Research has shown that many starting teachers are likely to leave the profession within the first few years. In addition a high percentage of teachers are preparing for retirement. Both of these issues indicate that Carroll County Public Schools will be challenged to hire and retain talented teachers.

What can be done? The Board of Education must make teacher attraction and retention a top priority. Teachers are the true experts in the school system, and should be included in decisions pertaining to curriculum and instruction. The Board of Education must find ways to keep new teachers in the classroom, and add incentives to maintain a reasonable retirement for teachers.

I would very much like to lend my experiences as an educator, coupled with my experiences as a mom, to the role of board member. For that reason, I ask for your support as I run for a seat on the Carroll County Board of Education.