Sheri Hubbard
Running for school board in Dorchester County District 4
Email: sheridawn777@hotmail.com
How old will you be on Election Day (Nov. 3)?
70
Are you currently employed? If so, where, and what is your job title?
No
What is the highest level of education that you completed, and where did you get that degree?
Master’s degree from Salisbury University
Why are you running for the school board?
I want to continue the progress that I and the other current board members have been making. We are focusing on a continuing path of improving educational outcomes for students, providing as many benefits for employees as a limited budget can allow and working toward providing up-to-date and safe buildings for all.
What makes you a good candidate for the board?
I have served two terms on the board and am currently president. Prior to getting elected to the board, I was a teacher and administrator for over four decades. My experience in the educational field gives me a solid foundation to understand the complexities of all the challenges facing education today and allows me to be able to make sound decisions on the matters that face education in Dorchester County.
What is the most important issue facing your school board and what would you do about it if elected?
I believe strongly that ensuring students can read well is of the utmost importance. I have been an advocate for continuing reading instruction beyond elementary school. If students can read their assigned work in every subject area, they will be able to perform better. Additionally, in today’s tight-budget environment, it is vitally important to get the most benefit from every dollar spent. To that end, I am always asking myself if whatever matter comes up for vote is good for students. If so, and if the budget will allow the expense, then I vote to approve.
Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.
I admire Jymil Thompson, superintendent of Dorchester County Public Schools, because he is focused on doing the best job possible for education in Dorchester County. He leads by example and hold everyone accountable, including himself. When tough personnel decisions had to be made, he made them.
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 Blueprint has lofty and admirable goals. However, it is a costly implementation for poor counties like Dorchester County. With the state facing a budget crunch, Blueprint funding may be facing many challenges. We at Dorchester County Public Schools are committed to providing all that the Blueprint details. Along with many other counties, we are doing as much as we can with the money allotted to us.
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?
Every school district in Maryland faces chronic absenteeism. Dorchester County Public Schools is working hard to make home visits, provide counseling, offer incentives and many other things to encourage parents to ensure their students come to school ready to learn and to help students understand how important it is to come to school.
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?
Our policy is under construction, and I believe once it is finished and approved, it will be a fair and reasonable policy.
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 Dorchester County Public School system is using every resource available to address the issue of youth mental health.
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 am not a fan of removing books from school libraries. I say that in the belief that trained professionals chose appropriate books to be in the library in the first place. Therefore, the books should all be acceptable. In the rare case that a student takes home a book to which his or her parent objects to some content, then that parent should talk with the student about their objections and contact the school librarian to discuss the concerns. It should be up to the school district to remove the book if it is reviewed and found to be objectionable or inappropriate.
