Shelley L. Potter
Running for school board in Frederick County
Email: Potter4BOE@gmail.com
Website: potterforboe.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/p/Shelley-Potter-for-Frederick-County-Board-of-Ed-61587819226351/
How old will you be on Election Day (Nov. 3)?
46
Are you currently employed? If so, where, and what is your job title?
Yes, Outlier AI-writer
What is the highest level of education that you completed, and where did you get that degree?
Master's in Education; American University
Why are you running for the school board?
I’m running because I want to strengthen the academic foundation in our schools, ensure transparency in our budget and that taxpayer money directly supports students and teachers. I also want to uphold parents as essential partners in their children’s education and believe families should have choices in how and where their children learn best.
What makes you a good candidate for the board?
I’m a Frederick County native and an educator with over 15 years of teaching and school leadership experience here in the U.S. and abroad. I’ve worked with students from pre-K through college, and I’ve served in roles from classroom teacher to curriculum coordinator to head of a primary school. In every education setting I’ve worked in, the goal has always been the same: strong academics, supportive classrooms and clear communication with families. I believe our schools should provide a challenging, high-quality education that prepares students for the real world they’re stepping into.
What is the most important issue facing your school board and what would you do about it if elected?
Academics. In Frederick County, 40% of our property tax money gets sent to the public schools, yet 40% of high school students can’t pass basic reading and math proficiency tests! Our current education system has abandoned methods of teaching that we have relied on for centuries to educate the youth for new programs and technology that are failing our students. We need to return to evidence-based practices that ensure mastery in reading and math. We need to focus on teaching students "how" to think, not "what" to think. Instead of encouraging our children to be academics that are critical thinkers and interested in life-long learning, our schools have been creating activists that push the latest political agenda. My goal is to ensure that every student that attends a Frederick County public school receives an excellent, world-class education.
Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.
U.S. Rep.Thomas Massie of Kentucky. Massie is a constitutional libertarian who has served as an elected official since 2012 and has never wavered on his beliefs or promises to his constituents who voted for him. He speaks out against politicians who would rather do what is easy and go with the flow, and the corruption that plagues Washington, D.C. He repeatedly advocates for victims of abuse and for America's best interests. Additionally, he is a man that lives with integrity and has built a sustainable homestead in his state where he lives completely off-grid.
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.
While I believe The Blueprint for Maryland's Future has well-intended goals and priorities, the amount of money needed to implement it is not sustainable. Furthermore, the current outcomes produced since is has been implemented, do not justify the amount of money spent. More money does not mean better education or outcomes. We have seen that time and again. Also, I believe that education should be in the hands of the communities to do what is best for their children; too much government involvement never produces better results.
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?
Frederick County Public Schools has a chronic absenteeism rate of 16.7%, which is the lowest among all Maryland school districts (the Maryland statewide average is 25%). To improve the current rate, the Board of Education could pass policies that a student must attend a certain number of days to pass his or her current grade level, with exceptions for medical emergencies.
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?
Frederick County Public Schools is currently operating under interim guidelines and draft AI-scales while developing a formal board policy scheduled for final action in fall 2026 to comply with new state mandates. However, I believe that the use of AI should not be permitted for students on any assignments and that the school should employ technology to help teachers detect AI use, similar to applications like Turnitin. Students must do their own thinking!
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?
I think parents need to be more actively involved with the education of their students and the schools they send their children too. Schools could provide periodical training for parents on detecting and helping their students with the mental health issues that are plaguing this generation. A big step is limiting screen time, social media use and smartphones, and getting students involved in activities that get them outside, in fresh air, working together for a common goal. This could be a sport or community project.
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?
Yes, I believe books that contain pornographic or overtly sexual content have no place in a public school. Currently, there are books in our school libraries that teach students to masterbate, using graphic pictures and descriptions, and advise students to access the internet to find porn; one in particular is a graphic novel titled "Let's Talk About It" by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan. It has a lexile level that matches a high second to low-fourth grade reading level, yet can be found in both our middle and high school libraries. Committees of parents and teachers should work alongside the Board of Education to ensure that all books in our school libraries are appropriate for all students to read.
