Kelli McClelland
Running for school board in Baltimore County District 3
Email: kelliforbaltimorecounty@gmail.com
How old will you be on Election Day (Nov. 3)?
44
Are you currently employed? If so, where, and what is your job title?
In addition to being a mother of two elementary-aged children, I am a full-time caregiver to my brother, who sustained a severe traumatic brain injury in 2010 when our family was struck by a semi-truck.
What is the highest level of education that you completed, and where did you get that degree?
Master of Arts in Applied Sociology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Why are you running for the school board?
I'm running for Board of Education in Baltimore County Public Schools District 3 because I believe that strong public schools are critical to our collective future. I believe that every single child deserves a high quality education, with educators that have everything they need to do their job well. I believe the path to that outcome is paved with collaboration and coalitions among all who share that goal.
What makes you a good candidate for the board?
I am an educator and an advocate through and through. I have taught in public school elementary classrooms, college classrooms and general education development prep-rooms around Baltimore County, Baltimore City and Anne Arundel County. I have advocated from the highest levels of government to my own neighborhood school for those who cannot do it for themselves.
What is the most important issue facing your school board and what would you do about it if elected?
The most important issue facing our school board is the lack of a clear, shared vision with specific, measurable goals tied to student outcomes. Without defined priorities, it is difficult to know whether our decisions, resources, and policies are actually improving student success. If elected, I will work with fellow board members, educators, families and district leadership to establish clear goals directly related to student outcomes and advocate for progress monitoring to occur in every board meeting.
Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.
The public figure I admire most is Fred Rogers. In the face of changing times and public opinions, he remained steadfast in his commitment to being honest with children and helping them to navigate challenging topics and circumstances. He operated with honesty and sincerity. Children still need so much of what Rogers offered, yet our leaders are so distracted by political posture and trends. I want Rogers-style leadership on our board. The kind that will do right by our students and educators, even when it isn’t easy or popular.
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 think the Blueprint for Maryland's Future is critical to advancing our Maryland school systems. The Kirwan Commission did the comprehensive work of identifying the enhancements needed to elevate our schools to the top of global education systems. As part of this work, the commission stressed that the Blueprint must be faithfully implemented. If we are committed to realizing the gains it promises, we must resist the urge to cut corners or slow implementation in the face of budget pressures. This is especially relevant now, as uncertainty surrounding both state and federal funding has created significant challenges for districts working to implement the Blueprint with fidelity. Inconsistent or incomplete implementation risks undermining the very outcomes the Blueprint was designed to achieve.
While I believe we must be committed to this funding model and the pillars of the Blueprint, I recognized the need for flexibility as we gain insight and new information. When the legislation was passed, we had no way to know what issues would emerge over the period of implementation. We must adapt to our changing educational landscape without losing our commitment to supporting our public schools.
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 remains a significant concern, even as Baltimore County Public Schools has made encouraging progress in reducing it. The board should build on what is working while recognizing that too many students are still missing too much school.
I would focus on understanding and addressing the reasons students are absent, rather than treating attendance as simply a discipline issue. That means looking at barriers such as transportation, mental health, school climate, family circumstances and student engagement. The board should set clear goals to improve chronic absenteeism and include regular progress monitoring of those goals on board meeting agendas to receive updates. As root causes are identified, the board should support policies and budget items that will ensure schools have the staff and resources necessary to intervene early. Improving attendance requires strong partnerships with families and a focus on making sure students feel supported, connected and engaged in their schools.
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?
There is no AI policy in place. A strong policy should clearly distinguish between appropriate uses and academic dishonesty. It should also address student privacy, data security, bias and the importance of verifying AI-generated information.
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?
No. Youth mental health needs have continued to grow, yet our district has reduced our school psychologist positions from 12-month to nine-month contracts. That moves us in the wrong direction. We need qualified mental health professionals in our schools so students can receive support before they reach a crisis point.
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 think it is important to follow the existing policies and review procedures that are in place when making any decisions regarding materials to be used in the school system. I believe in our teachers and librarians to make thoughtful decisions about the resources they use to support their instruction. I believe it is a value added proposition to have a variety of text with a variety of characters and subject matter available to students.
