Sarah and I have three children: Hannah (age 13), who goes to Takoma Park Middle School; Tommy (11), who goes to Pine Crest Elementary in Silver Spring; and Tabitha (9), who goes to the French Immersion Program at Sligo Creek Elementary in Silver Spring. We have been generally very happy with our experience in our schools but we know that it takes a lot of hard work and commitment by parents to guarantee that children get the attention and resources they need.

I’m the only candidate for the District 20 delegation—Senate or Delegate--with kids in the public schools, and I’m going to fight for the success of every student in Silver Spring and Takoma Park just like I fight for Hannah, Tommy and Tabitha.

And I’m going to fight for the teachers too because I am one and I know that good teaching is hard work. Our county has 12 public schools which are not meeting proficiency standards, and five of them are in District 20. Half of all the kids in Maryland who speak English as a second language live in Montgomery County and a huge number of them live in our district. I will do whatever I can to help turn these schools around. We must figure out a way to use the infusion of new languages in our community to our pedagogical advantage. We must also work at controlling the costs of higher education. College tuition has skyrocketed by 40% since Ehrlich’s took over, and many middle-class families are struggling to put their kids through college.

As District 20’s State Senator, I will work for:

• Full funding of the Thornton Commission priorities and universal pre-K for all children in Maryland, including after-school programs to assist the working families of Silver Spring and Takoma Park.
• Full funding for our community’s educational needs, including a substantial increase in teacher pensions since our dismal 38% of pre-retirement earnings level is just about at the bottom of the nation. Pennsylvania is at 71%.
• Stemming the soaring increases in college tuition, so that we can have a world-class university system, with a much stronger emphasis on the traditional liberal arts curriculum, that is affordable and accessible for all.
• Investing in language education to give all new residents an equal opportunity to participate in our vibrant local economy, while extending this commitment to parents, so that learning occurs both at home and at school.
• A special focus on middle schools where many of our kids are having their biggest problems.
• Putting the idealism and energy of the area’s talented college students to work in volunteer teaching programs in our public schools, to build a culture of public service, waves of education and strong community bonds.