Dorothy Andrews
Running for school board in Saint Mary's County District 1
Email: dorothyandrewsschoolboard@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DorothyAndrewsSchoolBoard
How old will you be on Election Day (Nov. 3)?
71
Are you currently employed? If so, where, and what is your job title?
Current school board member
What is the highest level of education that you completed, and where did you get that degree?
Associate's degree in general studies from Charles County Community College.
Why are you running for the school board?
I was elected to the Board of Education in 2022 and I am seeking reelection.
What makes you a good candidate for the board?
I am a good candidate because I have four years of experience as a school board member.
What is the most important issue facing your school board and what would you do about it if elected?
The most important issue is the drawback in funding from the state, which will require an increasing dependency on county funding.
Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.
I admire St. Mary's County State Delegate Matt Morgan because he is steadfast in his support of the county's public interests.
The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, passed by the General Assembly in 2021, is a 10-year plan that includes increased funding to support early childhood education, higher teacher starting pay, college/career-readiness standards for high school graduates, and expanded services to multilingual and impoverished families, among other goals. Since the Blueprint's implementation, test scores have increased modestly in many parts of the state, but some school officials complain about the costs and administrative burdens placed on them by the Blueprint. Please tell us your views on the Blueprint and how it is affecting your school district.
The problem with the Blueprint is its imposition of unfunded mandates.
Chronic absenteeism has been a problem in many schools since the Covid-19 pandemic. How big of a problem is absenteeism in your school district, and what if anything can the Board of Education do about it?
Not a significant problem.
Are you satisfied with your school district's policy on AI use by students? If so, why? If not, what would you suggest to improve the AI policy?
The school board adopted policy "EHB" to establish expectations for the responsible, ethical and secure use of artificial intelligence in instruction and operations. The board approved Microsoft Copilot as its primary AI platform. Access and training are rolled out in stages: administrators received access on July 1, 2026, teachers are slated for Jan. 1, 2027 and students follow in subsequent stages.
Youth mental health has been a growing concern for years now. Do you think your school district has the resources and personnel in place to deal with this issue adequately? If not, what would you suggest to improve the situation?
The school system provides comprehensive mental health and wellness support through school-based professionals, specialized programs and partnerships with local agencies.
Do you think there are circumstances when books should be removed from school libraries? If so, what kind of books should be removed, and who should make those decisions?
St. Mary's County Public Schools follows state guidelines under Maryland's Freedom to Read Act, which prohibits removing library materials based on partisan, ideological or religious disapproval.
