Tyler Walker
Running for school board in Frederick County
Email: walkerforfrederick@gmail.com
Website: www.walkerforfrederick.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580210316250#
How old will you be on Election Day (Nov. 3)?
33
Are you currently employed? If so, where, and what is your job title?
Yes. Remote regional sales manager. Part-time Army National Guard infantry captain and senior platoon trainer for Maryland Officer Candidate School
What is the highest level of education that you completed, and where did you get that degree?
Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in history from Shippensburg University
Why are you running for the school board?
I am a husband and father of three young children, a former Frederick County Public Schools teacher and a captain in the Maryland Army National Guard. I earned my degree in education with a major in history and taught in Pennsylvania and Virginia before teaching eighth grade U.S. History at Monocacy Middle School. Today, two of my children attend Frederick County Public Schools, with a third who will eventually join them.
I am running because of concerns I developed through my own experiences teaching in Frederick County Public Schools and now as a parent with children in our schools. I want Frederick County Public Schools to refocus on the fundamentals of reading, writing, math, science and history while ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed.
I want responsible stewardship of residents’ tax dollars, safe and secure schools, greater access to career and technical education and other alternative educational opportunities, fairness in girls’ sports and stronger trust and transparency between Frederick County Public Schools and parents. As a former teacher, Army officer and father, I believe I bring a perspective grounded in classroom experience, leadership, accountability and service.
What makes you a good candidate for the board?
My experiences in education, military service, leadership and community involvement have prepared me to approach the board from several different perspectives.
As a former teacher, I understand the demands placed on educators and the importance of creating classrooms where teachers can teach and students can learn. As a parent, I understand the trust families place in our schools and the importance of transparency, communication and accountability.
My 16 years of service in the Army National Guard have taught me how to lead, manage resources, develop long-term plans, work with people from different backgrounds and make difficult decisions while remaining focused on the mission. I currently serve as the senior platoon trainer for the Maryland Officer Candidate School, where I help plan and execute a year-long program responsible for training and developing future Army officers.
I have also served in leadership roles outside the military, including on a homeowners association board and as treasurer of my university’s Student Veterans of America chapter, while remaining active in my community through youth sports, church and volunteer service.
Most importantly, I am willing to ask difficult questions, listen to different perspectives and hold myself accountable for the decisions I make. Board members oversee significant public resources and make decisions that affect thousands of families. I would approach that responsibility with the same commitment to service, preparation and accountability that I have throughout my career.
What is the most important issue facing your school board and what would you do about it if elected?
The most important responsibility of the Board of Education is ensuring that every student has a safe, secure and respectful environment in which to learn.
As a former Frederick County Public Schools teacher and current parent, I believe safety includes both the physical security of our schools and maintaining classrooms where teachers can teach and students can learn.
I support modern, functional access-control and camera systems, an increased school resource officer presence and the expansion of cameras in specialized classrooms serving non-verbal and other vulnerable students. Frederick County Public Schools has barely begun moving toward a phased rollout of these classroom cameras, and I support expanding that effort.
We must also address classroom discipline. Chronic disruption, bullying, violence and serious behavioral issues can negatively affect every student in a classroom. Teachers need clear expectations, consistent disciplinary procedures and confidence that administrators will support them when student behavior interferes with the educational environment.
Safety and dignity also include protecting privacy in restrooms, locker rooms and changing areas and ensuring fairness in girls’ athletics. I will ensure we protect girls' sports and respect their private spaces.
If elected, I will prioritize secure facilities, protections for vulnerable students, consistent discipline, support for teachers and policies that protect the safety, privacy and dignity of every student.
Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.
I admire Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his work ethic, public service and ability to work with people across the political spectrum. The son of Cuban immigrants who came to the United States seeking a better life, his story reflects the opportunities available through hard work, education and perseverance.
He has worked at many levels of government, and was confirmed by the Senate for his current position in a 99-0 vote. I particularly respect his willingness to take on difficult responsibilities and work across party lines when common ground can be found. His unanimous confirmation as secretary of state demonstrated the respect he earned from colleagues across the political spectrum.
I admire leaders who work hard, remain grounded in where they came from, and understand that effective public service requires both strong principles and the ability to work with people who may disagree with you. The same could be said for Vice President JD Vance. His story is incredibly inspiring.
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 for Maryland’s Future includes several goals I support, including competitive teacher pay, stronger career and technical education opportunities, early intervention and ensuring students graduate prepared for college or a career.
However, good goals do not automatically produce good policy. I have concerns about the Blueprint’s cost, administrative requirements and the degree to which state mandates restrict the ability of local school systems to determine how resources can best serve their students.
This is particularly important in Frederick County. Frederick County Public Schools itself has acknowledged that meeting Blueprint requirements requires significant budget realignment and could affect class sizes and existing programs. Our fiscal year 2027 operating budget has now exceeded $1 billion, making responsible implementation and oversight increasingly important.
As a board member, I would focus on meeting our legal obligations while advocating for greater local flexibility. We should preserve the Blueprint provisions that demonstrably improve student outcomes, recruit and retain excellent teachers and expand career opportunities, while identifying mandates that create unnecessary administrative burdens or divert resources from classrooms.
The Blueprint should be judged by measurable results, not simply by how much money is spent or how many programs are created. Frederick County should have the flexibility to direct resources toward the needs of our students, teachers and classrooms while maintaining transparency and accountability for taxpayers.
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 concern both statewide and in Frederick County. Frederick County Public Schools data shows improvement in some schools, but too many students are still missing significant instructional time.
The board should focus on early identification and intervention rather than waiting until absenteeism becomes chronic. Schools should communicate directly with parents, identify the reasons students are missing school, provide support when families face legitimate barriers and establish clear expectations and accountability when absences are avoidable.
Parents must be central to that effort. Schools cannot replace the responsibility of families to ensure their children attend regularly, but they can build stronger relationships with parents and intervene early when problems emerge.
I also support recognizing students who demonstrate strong attendance and improvement. Ultimately, strong schools require strong partnerships with families. Students cannot benefit from excellent teachers, programs or resources if they are not consistently in the classroom.
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 developing a formal AI policy, so I believe this is an important opportunity to establish clear expectations before these technologies become further embedded in the classroom.
Students should learn about AI and how to use emerging technology responsibly, but AI should not replace critical thinking, writing, research or problem solving. I also believe Frederick County Public Schools has become too dependent on Chromebooks for everyday instruction. Technology should be used intentionally when it enhances a lesson, not simply because a device is available.
Reducing unnecessary screen and Chromebook use would also limit opportunities for inappropriate AI use during class and encourage more direct interaction between students and teachers.
Our policy should clearly define when AI is prohibited, when it may be used with teacher permission as a classroom enhancement and when its use must be disclosed or cited. The goal should be technologically capable students who can still think, write, and solve problems independently.
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?
As a former teacher, I have long supported youth mental health awareness and became certified in youth Mental Health First Aid, training that helped me recognize warning signs and appropriately respond when students may be struggling. Frederick County Public Schools has dedicated counselors, mental health professionals and community partnerships, and those resources are important, particularly for students facing anxiety, bullying, self-harm, crisis or other serious challenges.
At the same time, I believe parents should remain the primary caregivers and partners in decisions involving their children’s mental health. Schools should support families, not replace them.
I also believe we need a more holistic approach to student well-being. Healthy relationships, strong families, physical activity, nutrition, recreation, appropriate limits on smartphones and social media and meaningful community connections can all contribute to healthier students.
When professional mental health intervention is necessary, students should have access to appropriate support with parental knowledge and consent. But our broader goal should be resilient, healthy children supported by their families, schools and communities.
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 school libraries should promote literacy, critical thinking, intellectual curiosity and a lifelong love of reading. I strongly support access to classic literature and recognize that appropriate literature, particularly at the high school level, may contain mature or difficult themes.
However, age and content appropriateness matter. Graphic or obscene material, particularly material that promotes or encourages lewd sexual acts, should not be justified solely by claims of educational value. Schools already make decisions about which books to purchase and which not to purchase; applying appropriate standards is not the same as preventing adults from purchasing or reading a book elsewhere.
These decisions should follow a transparent, consistent review process involving professional educators, parents, administrators and community input rather than the preferences of any single individual. The board should establish clear standards and ensure they are followed consistently, with particular consideration given to students’ ages and the educational and literary value of the material.
