We don't usually do "Year in Review" stories at the Easton Gazette. But this year has been such an interesting year, we felt compelled to point out some of the people in Maryland who have made a positive impact on education in the state.
These are people who have investigated corruption in education, stood up for children and families, fought the state bureaucracy to do what is right, made positive change in their system, and withstood the constant barrage of threats and insults from the extreme Progressive left or other critics to do what is right for children.
They were chosen by our editorial board. They are not in any particular order.
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Chris Papst - Investigative Reporter WBFF FOX 45; Author: FAILURE FACTORY
Those of us in the education "industry" have been saying for years that the news media needs to pay attention to the fraud, theft, and general malfeasance in our U.S. Education systems. As teachers and administrators, we saw that the billions of dollars put into education in the U. S. public schools rarely made it to the classroom to improve learning for our students. Yet, no media outlets seemed interested in the information.
Then, a few years ago, WBFF FOX 45 started featuring a segment called "Project Baltimore" with Chris Papst, a reporter who started an investigation into the Baltimore City Public Schools uncovering vast corruption and a general nonchalant attitude regarding whether or not the children in their schools were learning. Every week, he produced another stunning, well researched report which exposed the disaster that was the Baltimore City and Maryland public schools.
Suddenly, public schools were on the front burner for citizens, politicians, and of course, parents. Here are some of the stories that he uncovered:
From 2023:
23 Baltimore schools have zero students proficient in math, per state test results
A more recent story regarding "ghost students":
Report estimates Maryland schools received $990M since 2019 for students not in class
These reports don't come without a price to Papst who has faced hostility and threats from those in power who don't want the truth exposed. But, he keeps at it. His recent book FAILURE FACTORY is a national bestseller, and he is busy speaking to many community groups throughout the state.
Chris is truly a MARYLAND EDUCATION HERO!
Montgomery County Parents - Rosalind Hanson: Last summer, something amazing happened in the deep blue Montgomery County Public Schools. Parents sued for the right to determine the ideas their young children should be exposed to in school. The case was Mahmoud v. Taylor and it went in front of the Supreme Court who decided the case in favor of the parents. Here is an intro to the story from one of the mothers who fought, Rosalind Hanson. Rosalind is also the Chapter Chair for Moms for Liberty Montgomery County.
When my school district was forcing children to attend LGBTQ storybook lessons, I banded together with like-minded moms, and we sued the school district. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court.
And we won.
Last week’s Supreme Court ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor has been championed by every common-sense American who, like the Justices in their 6-3 majority opinion, understands that a massive government overreach had violated the religious liberties of families in Montgomery County Public Schools.
The parent plaintiffs, including myself, simply wanted to be able to receive notice and have the ability to opt our children out of the “LGBTQ inclusive” teachings in English class that conflict with our religious beliefs, and we were vindicated. Through the court proceedings, the entire country witnessed the spectacle that had become the one-sided, celebratory introduction of sensitive topics into the education of our young ones.
Here is the rest of the story in Hanson's own words:
I'm One Of The Moms Who Just Won At The Supreme Court. Here's Why We Fought - The Easton Gazette
So, Montgomery County Parents and Rosalind Hanson are MARYLAND EDUCATION HEROES!
Somerset County Board of Education Members: Another story from last summer was from the tiny county of Somerset County where an elected school board faced off against the Maryland State Board of Education, Maryland Superintendent of Schools Carey Wright, and the Maryland Office of the Inspector General for Education and Inspector General Richard Henry.
You see, the Board wanted to fire their local Superintendent because she was not following law and proper procedures in running the schools. She openly defied not only the Board's directives but also put the county's federal funding in jeopardy by defying an Executive Order to remove DEI practices and curriculum from Somerset County. She decided to appeal the firing and the State of Maryland decided to change law so they could step in with a 180 day stay. Here are the stories:
In the end, the Somerset County School Board won the battle and defended successfully against an attack by the Office of the Inspector General for Education, Richard Henry. Superintendent Tasker-Mitchell left, the Board hired Dave Bromwell as interim Superintendent, and the OIGE's report was discounted.
The real heroes here?
Board President Matthew Lankford and Vice President Andrew Gleason. These two gentlemen stood up to the state and defended local control and what is right. Because of this, some in the press vilified them and left out facts in the story in an attempt to make them look like their actions were racially motivated. They did not back down.
Additional heroes were board attorneys Gordana and Marc Schifanelli who helped the Somerset County Board understand their legal rights and responsibilities through the ordeal.
The Lankford and Gleasons have asked that we add Darren Lombardo of the Delmarva Parent Teacher Coalition on the list as he helped them through this ordeal. We agree!
Somerset County BOE Engages New Legal Representation - Easton Gazette
They are all MARYLAND EDUCATION HEROES!
Dr. Jymil Thompson, Superintendent of Dorchester County Public Schools - Many Superintendents talk a good game about improving academics in their districts, but Dr. Thompson takes decisive action. Because of that, his district led the state in the percent of improvement in English Language Arts on the Maryland State Tests. We did an interview with Thompson:
It is so refreshing to have a Superintendent that isn't afraid to do what is right to improve the academic performance of the students in his county!
Dr. Thompson is a MARYLAND EDUCATION HERO!
Homeschool Parents:
In the past, when we heard about "homeschooling" many of us were given a picture of overprotective, evangelistic parents who kept their children separate from other children while teaching them at home, etc. As a teacher, I heard other teachers and educators describe homeschooled children as "socially awkward" and "backwards." Most of this propaganda came from the Teachers' Unions who hate any education which isn't under their direct political control.
Of course, none of those characterizations are true. Nowadays in the United States, homeschooling families are choosing to keep their children home to educate them in the face of public (and even private) schools who are more focused on indoctrination than education. Low public school academic scores fuels this exodus. Here is a story from the Baltimore Banner:
Maryland has seen a 50% increase in homeschooling since COVID - The Baltimore Banner
Is Homeschooling The Next Target Of Government Education? - The Easton Gazette
Homeschooling isn't always easy. It requires either one or both parents to alter their work schedules. It also depends on parents being well versed in content so they can take on the task. They are subjected to ridicule from certain segments of the public. But, despite that, we have never talked to a homeschooling parent or child who regretted teaching/learning at home.
Homeschooling Parents are MARYLAND EDUCATION HEROES.
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHO SPEAK UP:
Teachers' Unions vilify them. Progressive extremists try to intimidate them. Some board lawyers lie to them. These are the elected school board members in different counties who try to stem the tide of mediocrity, education platitudes, bad ideas, and financial fraud and waste by asking questions and speaking up for the education of our children.
Many times they are publicly chastised by other board members who call them racist, elitist, and every other bad name in the book. They are beset by crazy protesters in public who try to force them to vote for the "rights" of boys to unfairly and dangerously compete in girls' sports, dress in girls' locker rooms, and usurp the student right to free speech. They are singled out when they request the removal of pornography from school media centers or ask that students learn reading, math, science and history instead of warped ideology.
Is Maryland Government Targeting Conservative School Board Members? - The Easton Gazette
These board members are not university professors or "pie in the sky" education theorists. They are regular people; moms, dads, grandparents, etc. who decided to run for school board so they could make things better. They didn't have to. They chose to.
And that makes them MARYLAND EDUCATION HEROES.
We thank all of these people and groups for doing what is right for our children. We know it's not easy. But we thank God you are there!
