Brian Hampton
Running for school board in Cecil County District 4
Email: friends.of.brian.hampton@gmail.com
How old will you be on Election Day (Nov. 3)?
54
Are you currently employed? If so, where, and what is your job title?
I retired fromt the U.S. Army Aberdeen Proving Ground after 29 years of combined federal service as an active duty Marine and civilian engineer for the Army.
What is the highest level of education that you completed, and where did you get that degree?
I earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Michigan Tech University.
Why are you running for the school board?
I am seeking a full term on the Board of Education to ensure every student has access to a quality education. As a current board member, I prioritize transparency by regularly communicating how and why your education tax dollars are spent. My background in data analysis complements my hands-on perspective as a parent, mentor and reading coach. This unique combination allows me to make rational, fact-based decisions and translate complex district information into clear, understandable insights. I believe board members must be accountable and clearly articulate their votes—and I will continue to do exactly that for our community.
What makes you a good candidate for the board?
My involvement with Cecil County Public Schools began long before I earned a seat on the board–I mentor students at the School of Technology, and serve as reading buddy for elementary students at the public library. Since becoming a board member, I have managed real budgets, addressed staffing challenges, provided curriculum oversight and made critical decisions that directly impact our schools. I have consistently demonstrated my approach to this role: asking the right questions, analyzing data, listening to our community and always keeping the focus on our students. Voters do not have to imagine how I will serve—they can look at how I am already delivering for our schools.
What is the most important issue facing your school board and what would you do about it if elected?
Safety and discipline are foundational to academic achievement; when classrooms are disrupted, every student’s ability to learn suffers. Every student deserves a safe school, and every educator deserves a supportive teaching environment. I will champion clear behavior expectations, consistent enforcement and targeted interventions for students who need support. I believe policies must be shaped by the frontline insights of our teachers and staff. My commitment to you is to look honestly at the realities in our schools, reject political distractions and make evidence-based decisions that protect instructional time and maximize student success.
Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.
I admire leaders who bridge divides and communicate with clarity. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan exemplifies this through his effective collaboration with an opposing legislative body. Similarly, former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stands out for his ability to break down complex governmental issues into clear, concise public communication.
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 five pillars of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future are critical to student success. I strongly support the College and Career Readiness pillar because it honors diverse pathways—elevating vocational training, skilled trades and military preparation alongside advanced academic coursework. Success looks different for every student, and our schools must reflect that. However, we must remain focused on implementation and results. While the Blueprint correctly directs resources to high-need schools, its rigid formulas limit local school district flexibility. By restricting how we staff and allocate resources, these state mandates have inadvertently contributed to unsustainable elementary class sizes of over 30 students in our district. This is unacceptable for both teachers and students. I will advocate for the local autonomy needed to balance state equity goals with the practical classroom flexibility required to reduce class sizes and support our educators.
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?
Candidate did not respond to this question.
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?
Candidate did not respond to this question.
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?
Cecil County Public Schools actively invests its budget and personnel into mental health awareness and student support services. While we maximize our school resources to reach every student, effectively addressing this complex, community-wide issue requires collaboration that extends far beyond the school system alone. As a board member, I will continue to advocate for partnerships with our local government and service providers to ensure Cecil County Public Schools can support all students and connect them to additional resources as needed.
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 fully support the established Cecil County Public Schools process for evaluating the suitability of library and media center materials. When a concern is raised about a book, it undergoes a balanced review by a formal committee composed of media specialists, teachers, school administrators and parents. This collaborative approach ensures that library collections are age-appropriate, professionally vetted and reflective of both parental input and community standards.
