School Board Challengers Snag Education Association Endorsement

The Howard County Education Association, which represents more than 5,000 teachers and school staff in the county, has endorsed three non-incumbents—Ann DeLacy, David Gertler and  for the county board of education.

“We need change on the Board of Education,” said HCEA President Paul Lemle in an interview. “These are by far the most educated, best prepared, ready-to-serve candidates.”

In a statement released by the HCEA, Lemle said, “The current members hold each other in contempt. This dichotomy is an inherent contradiction; the two states cannot coexist.”

The association, which is the exclusive representative of teachers in Howard County for collective bargaining, endorsed incumbents Janet Siddiqui, Ellen Flynn Giles and in 2008.

But Lemle said the HCEA chose not to endorse Siddiqui and Giles this year because of their votes in literature and reading classes at the middle school level, entering into the Race to the Top grant process that enhanced and extended standardized testing, and failing to make a "good faith effort" to raise consensus on the Board.

Lemle said Dyer voted the right way on those issues.

"We like Allen Dyer," said Lemle. "We think he's strong for educators, but he didn't receive the required support at our vote."

In order to receive an HCEA endorsement, candidates must receive support from 58 percent of HCEA representatives.

HCEA cited DeLacy’s experience, Gertler’s math and engineering background and Scott’s previous work in education as reasons for endorsing the candidates.

DeLacy serves on the Harper’s Choice Village Board and is co-chair of the Howard County Public School System Operating Budget Review Committee.

The statement cited Gertler’s three different master’s degrees in business administration, electrical engineering and applied mathematics.

HCEA also pointed to Scott’s teaching career. She has taught for 10 years at the Harrison Institute for Public Law at Georgetown and serves as a public health policy advisor for the governor and lieutenant governor.

All 14 candidates laid out their stances on a wide range of issues at a forum on March 5. Patch is working on an ongoing series of profiles of the BOE candidates; below are finished profiles.

• Jackie Scott, Columbia

Other recent endorsements:

The African American Coalition of Howard County announced its support for six candidates: Ann DeLacy, Jackie Scott, Ellen Flynn Giles, Janet Siddiqui, Corey Andrews and Olga Butler, according to Explore Howard.

Bill Woodcock, from local blog 53beersontap, endorsed Ellen Flynn Giles and Jackie Scott.

Columbia Association Board Member Tom Coale and editor of HoCo Rising wrote he wouldn't support Dyer, saying lawsuits filed by Dyer against the board regarding funds for transportation for non-public school students and copyright issues are preventing collaboration on the board.

Blogger Dennis Lane at Wordbones.com wrote that he was impressed by David Gertler and Olga Butler. He also supported Ellen Flynn Giles for re-election.

The BOE primary will take place on April 3, when voters will select seven candidates to move on to the general election on Nov. 6.