Election of the 27th
Student Member of the Board of Education
Election Day
April 28, 2004
MCR Special Election Committee 2004 Voters Guide
Amanda Lee
Every year, student member of the Board
candidates make the same campaign
promises: double-A exemption, later start
times, smaller class sizes, open lunch for all
high schools. Every year, we are asked to
watch a short video and vote for one of two
extremely similar candidates – and why?
Past SMOBs have done an excellent job
voicing a student perspective to the Board of
Education, but how often are we updated on
the student voice that represents our interests to the Board?
I am running for student member of the Board to actually make a
difference in the way this position relates to students. Our principals,
teachers and our superintendent can readily inform our parents and us
about important issues – why can’t the SMOB communicate with
students in the same way?
If elected to the board, I will not only strive to be an articulate voice
for our interests, you will actually hear from me throughout the year
about important issues that affect our education.
your help, the things that we really care about can be brought to the
Board’s attention and we can all work to improve our system.
Education

Currently a junior at Montgomery Blair High School

Takoma Park Middle School, Grades 6-8

Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School, Grades 4-5

Fairland Elementary School, Grades 1-3
Recent Leadership Experience
(from the past two years, starting with most recent)

Delegate, Montgomery County Region (MCR) of Student
Councils

School Liaison, MCR Executive Committee

Member, MCR State Lobbying Committee

Member, Youth Leadership Montgomery Class of 2004

Founder and president, Junior State of America chapter

Member, Youth Advisory Committee to the County Executive

Rapporteur, League of Arab Nations, Model UN

Member, Education Symposium

First-grade tutor, Montgomery Blair Saturday school

Volunteer, Holy Cross Hospital

Delegate, YMCA Youth and Government Mock Legislature

Graduation speaker and participant, Junior Statesmen Summer
School at Yale University

Congressional Page, U.S. House of Representatives

Mentor, Greentree Center for Women and Children
Platform
I support:

focusing more on communicating with the students – not
telling them what to do

allowing students to test out of classes if they can pass the
final on the first day

lowering eligibility requirements for participating in school
sports and activities– students who are shut out of afterschool activities miss out on positive opportunities to
connect with fellow students and the community

offering healthier food alternatives in school cafeterias

reforming the attendance policy – grades and course credit
should not be directly tied to attendance in the form of LCs
(loss of credit)

driver’s education as a class elective

less emphasis on standardized testing
I do not support:

random drug testing of athletes or any other students

turning off vending machines during the day

implementation of the new grading policy – the county
should focus its resources on helping students who are
struggling under the current system
Let’s not kid ourselves. I cannot promise that all of these measures
will pass if I am elected, but I do promise that I will work to plant the
seed for these new ideas. If we want change, it might not happen in a
year, but I will not let these subjects be brushed off by the Board of
Education. Of course, there are more issues to be discussed. With
Question 1: Montgomery County Public Schools is one of the best
educational systems in the state of Maryland as well as a nationwide
leader in innovative and progressive instruction. We have a diverse
student population and possess the resources to offer a
comprehensive, rewarding education.
However, too much emphasis is placed on standardized testing.
Whehter or not a student does well on a test – whether it be the SAT,
the MSA, or the HAS – does NOT predict his or her intelligence or
their success in the future. Teachers waste class time on these onedimensional tests instead of focusing more on interesting, wideranging learning.
Question 2: If elected, there are more ways to communicate with the
students than visiting a handful of students every year. Simple
strategies like writing a monthly letter to the students or
communicating through television shows and school newspapers
(with the consent of these publications) would be effective ways of
getting the word out to students that important decisions are being
made for them. The SMOB should not only hear from student
leaders from different schools, but ALL students. I would make
communication a key part of the student member of the Board
position by providing students with more opportunities to speak their
mind through forums and discussions that are open to everyone.
The candidates’ profiles have been prepared by the candidates and do not
necessarily represent the views of the Special Elections Committee (SEC).
The Montgomery County Region of the Maryland Association of Student
Councils (MCR), or Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). The SEC
cannot assure the accuracy of the statements contained in this document.
Published by the SEC of MCR in cooperation with MCPS.