Kenisha Le'Cole
Running for school board in Wicomico County District 7
Email: positivitymatters19@gmail.com
Website: kenishalecoleforboe.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kenishalecoleforwcboe/
How old will you be on Election Day (Nov. 3)?
41
Are you currently employed? If so, where, and what is your job title?
Self Employed holistic wellness strategist
What is the highest level of education that you completed, and where did you get that degree?
I am a proud graduate of Wicomico High School, Class of 2003. I continued my education at Wor-Wic Community College, where I studied criminal justice and am currently two courses away from completing my degree.
Why are you running for the school board?
I am running for the Wicomico County Board of Education because I believe our schools are the heartbeat of our community, and every student, parent, teacher and staff member deserves to feel seen, heard, valued and safe. As a Wicomico County Public Schools graduate, a parent, youth mentor, wellness professional and community advocate, I understand our school system from more than one perspective. I have spent years working with young people and families, listening to their experiences and showing up where I am needed. I believe leadership begins with listening and being present, not just when there is a problem, but consistently. My campaign is rooted in four "Seeds of Change": mental health, safety, unity and education. I believe students learn better when they feel safe physically, mentally and emotionally. I believe our educators and staff deserve support as they pour into our children. Parents deserve transparency, communication and a real voice in their children’s education. Most importantly, I am not running for a title. I am running because I genuinely love my community and believe I can help create meaningful change. I want to bring people together, have the difficult conversations, ask the necessary questions and make decisions with our children and community at the center. For me, it’s about the people, not the power. I want every child in Wicomico County to know that their circumstances do not determine their potential and that someone is willing to stand up, show up and advocate for them.
What makes you a good candidate for the board?
What makes me a good candidate for the board is that I bring real-life experience, compassion, accountability and a willingness to listen. I don’t believe you have to know everything to lead, but you do have to be willing to learn, ask questions, do the work and never be afraid to speak up when something doesn’t feel right. I have over 15 years of experience in administrative, clerical, banking and customer service roles, which taught me how to communicate with people from different backgrounds, handle difficult situations, problem solve and remain accountable. My work as a youth mentor, mindfulness and wellness facilitator and community advocate has also allowed me to work directly with young people and understand that every child has a story behind their behavior, their struggles and even their successes. I’m already actively involved in my community through committees, boards, mentoring and advocacy. I don’t just talk about community. I show up for it. I also bring a perspective that isn’t always represented at the table. I’m willing to listen to students, parents, teachers, staff and community members, even when their experiences or opinions are different from mine. I am not afraid to ask the uncomfortable questions, and I’m not interested in simply going along to get along. I will always lead with love, integrity, transparency and the understanding that the decisions made at that table affect real children, real families and real lives.
What is the most important issue facing your school board and what would you do about it if elected?
I believe the most important issue facing our school system is mental health, because mental health is at the root of everything. It is the foundation of my "Seeds of Change" for a reason. When we address mental health, we can begin addressing safety, unity and education in a more meaningful way. Mental health isn’t only about our students. It includes our teachers, staff, administrators and families. We cannot expect students to come into school ready to learn when they are carrying things emotionally that we may know nothing about. We also cannot expect educators and staff to continuously pour into our children without making sure someone is pouring into them. If elected, I would advocate for stronger and more accessible mental health resources, early intervention, grief support, emotional-regulation tools and partnerships with community organizations that can help fill the gaps. I also want to create a culture where asking for help, is normal and where students, staff and families can voice concerns without fear of being dismissed or retaliated against. For me, mental health isn't another program to check off a list. It is the root. When people feel mentally and emotionally supported, they are better able to learn, teach, communicate, make safer choices and build healthier relationships. If we strengthen the root, we give every one of my Seeds of Change--mental health, safety, unity and education a better opportunity to grow.
Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.
I don’t have one specific public leader that I admire or aspire to be like. I have respect for many leaders and can appreciate the work they have done, but I believe there is power in being your own individual. That is something I also teach my mentees: learn from people, be inspired by their journey, but never feel like you have to become someone else to make an impact. Take the lessons that speak to you, learn from both the successes and the mistakes of others and create your own path. I aspire to be the kind of leader who remains true to who I am, leads with love, listens, continues learning and serves people without losing myself in the process. I don’t want to be the next version of someone else. I want to be the best and most authentic version of Kenisha Le’Cole and encourage the young people I mentor to do the same.
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.
I believe the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is a great foundation for creating more equality and consistency within our school system. I appreciate that it looks at the whole picture from early childhood education and teacher compensation to college and career readiness and additional resources for students who need them most. The Blueprint also creates statewide accountability while still requiring local school systems to develop implementation plans. At the same time, I believe we have to acknowledge the impact that implementation, funding requirements and additional responsibilities can have on the people doing the work every day. Something can be good for education and still need adjustments in how it is carried out. For Wicomico County, I would like us to look beyond simply asking, “Are we meeting the Blueprint requirements?” and also ask, “What does each school actually need to be successful?” Every school and school community is different. I believe in going directly to our teachers, administrators, support staff, students and families and asking what is working, what isn't and what ideas they have. I also believe our community can help bridge some of the gaps through partnerships, resources, mentorship and simply showing up where help is needed. The Blueprint gives us a framework, but the people inside our schools give that framework life. We have to listen to them. If we combine accountability with community, creativity, and the voices of those doing the work, we can better meet the needs of our schools and the future of our youth.
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?
Chronic absenteeism is a significant issue because when students are not consistently in school, their ability to learn, stay connected and keep up academically is affected. But I also believe we have to look beyond the number of absences and ask why a child isn’t in school. Sometimes students and families are dealing with circumstances beyond their control. Transportation, mental health, illness, housing instability, family responsibilities or simply not feeling safe or connected at school can all become barriers. I am grateful that our Board of Education has been listening to families and the community and taking steps to address attendance with new policies. I believe the board should continue looking at attendance policies while also addressing the different challenges behind absenteeism. We cannot solve chronic absenteeism by simply saying, “come to school.” We have to listen, identify the barriers, connect families with resources and give our students reasons to want to be there.
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?
I believe our current AI policy is reasonable for both students and staff. Technology is continuing to change, and I don’t believe the answer is to be afraid of AI or completely remove it from education. The focus should be on teaching students how to use it responsibly. AI can be a valuable learning tool when it is used appropriately, when students are still doing their own thinking and learning and when AI-generated information is properly acknowledged or cited when required. It should support education, not replace a student’s ability to think, create, research and develop their own ideas. As technology continues to evolve, I believe our policies should evolve with it. The board should regularly review the policy, listen to educators and students about what they are experiencing and make updates when new concerns or technology arise. We are preparing our youth for their future, and technology is going to be part of that future.
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?
Mental health is more than an issue I care about; it is a part of my lifestyle and the work I already do in my community. I believe our school system has mental health resources and personnel in place, but having resources available does not always mean they are easily accessible or that students, staff and families know they exist. I would like to see stronger communication about the services available, how to access them and who people can turn to before they reach a crisis. Improving mental health within our schools also requires us to get outside of the boardroom. We have to listen and show up. We need to be in our schools and communities, talking directly with students, families, educators and staff to understand what they actually need. That is something I actively do now. For me, addressing mental health starts with meeting people where they are.
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?
I believe there are circumstances where a book may not be appropriate for a certain age or grade level, but I also believe parents and caregivers should have a voice rather than simply removing access for every family. Children are still developing mentally and emotionally, and what is appropriate for a high school student may not be appropriate for an elementary student. Books containing explicit sexual content, extreme violence or excessive vulgarity should receive additional consideration before being made independently available to younger children. For me, that standard should apply regardless of whether a book involves LGBTQ+ relationships, heterosexual relationships or any other storyline. For certain materials, I would support requiring parent or caregiver approval before checkout. That allows families to make decisions based on their own child’s maturity and values without automatically limiting another family’s choices. These decisions should involve educators, qualified library staff, administrators and parents, using clear and consistent age-appropriate standards not one person’s personal beliefs.
