School board

Board of Education Member, Frederick County

Vote for: 4
Candidates: 8
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A board of education member helps set policy, approve the budget and hire the superintendent of the county's public schools.

Candidates Compare by issue

Casey Day

No party listed

Teacher

The gist

Supports Policy 443 protecting transgender and all students
Opposes removing books for all students over individual objections
Supports expanding dual enrollment, apprenticeships and CTE
Supports Blueprint goals with adjusted rollout timelines

More about Casey

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Supports Policy 443 protecting transgender and all students
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I support Policy 443 and ensuring that every student feels safe and welcome in our schools and classrooms.”
Opposes removing books for all students over individual objections
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I do not support banning books for all students based on individual objections.”
Supports expanding dual enrollment, apprenticeships and CTE
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I support expanding dual enrollment, internships, apprenticeships, CTE, and industry partnerships while strengthening literacy and math.”
Supports Blueprint goals with adjusted rollout timelines
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will advocate for continued investment, support adjustments to timelines where staffing shortages make rollout difficult”

Heather Fletcher

No party listed

Former air traffic controller; teacher's assistant

The gist

Opposes Policy 443 on transgender students
Supports removing sexually explicit books from school libraries
Opposes the Blueprint for Maryland's Future
Supports a classical curriculum and expanded school choice

More about Heather

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Opposes Policy 443 on transgender students
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“If elected, I would work to remove this policy and ensure a zero-tolerance bullying approach.”
Supports removing sexually explicit books from school libraries
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Materials that depict explicit sexual acts or other obscene content are not appropriate for school libraries and should be removed.”
Opposes the Blueprint for Maryland's Future
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I do not support the Maryland Blueprint because education should remain under local control.”
Supports a classical curriculum and expanded school choice
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will prioritize a classical curriculum that strengthens core academics in reading, writing, math, and science, while expanding school choice”

Shelley L. Potter

No party listed

The gist

Supports restricting bathrooms and sports teams to biological sex
Supports removing books with sexual content from schools
Opposes more taxpayer spending on public schools
Supports higher teacher salaries and more planning time

More about Shelley

View sources (1)

Supports restricting bathrooms and sports teams to biological sex
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I believe students should use the bathrooms, locker rooms, and play on the sports teams of their biological sex.”
Supports removing books with sexual content from schools
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I believe books with sexual content have no place inside schools with the exception of high school biology class.”
Opposes more taxpayer spending on public schools
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“No more taxpayer money needs to be spent on public schools.”
Supports higher teacher salaries and more planning time
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I do, however, agree with increasing teacher salaries, more support in the classroom, and more planning time”

Geoffrey Seidel

No party listed

Registered nurse; clinical project manager

The gist

Opposes Policy 443 on transgender students
Supports an explicit ban on pornography in school libraries
Opposes full Blueprint funding without revisions
Supports phonics-based reading and math mastery benchmarks

More about Geoffrey

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Opposes Policy 443 on transgender students
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Policy 443 puts schools between parents and their children. The policy defaults to secrecy instead of partnership.”
Supports an explicit ban on pornography in school libraries
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“the district has no clear policy that explicitly prohibits pornography in the library.”
Opposes full Blueprint funding without revisions
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I do not support full funding of the Blueprint. It has to be revised.”
Supports phonics-based reading and math mastery benchmarks
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“require phonics-based reading, math mastery benchmarks, & frequent research-based assessments”

Tyler Walker

No party listed

IT infrastructure sales; Maryland Army National Guard

The gist

Supports parental notice, private spaces and sex-based sports
Supports removing sexually explicit content from school libraries
Opposes full Blueprint implementation without more local flexibility
Supports expanding career and technical education

More about Tyler

View sources (1)

Supports parental notice, private spaces and sex-based sports
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I support policies that protect all students from bullying while ensuring transparency, safeguarding private spaces, promoting fairness in sports”
Supports removing sexually explicit content from school libraries
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Explicit sexual content does not belong in school libraries or classrooms.”
Opposes full Blueprint implementation without more local flexibility
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I do not support full implementation without greater flexibility and accountability.”
Supports expanding career and technical education
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I support expanding career and technical education, real-world skills, and partnerships with local businesses”

Chad King Wilson, Sr.

No party listed

Classroom teacher

The gist

Supports Policy 443 and training to support LGBTQIA+ students
Opposes banning books from curricula or libraries
Supports full funding of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future
Supports universal pre-K and union career pathways

More about Chad

View sources (1)

Supports Policy 443 and training to support LGBTQIA+ students
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will advocate for strong anti-bullying enforcement, staff training to support LGBTQIA+ students, and welcoming school environments.”
Opposes banning books from curricula or libraries
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I oppose banning books in school curricula or libraries.”
Supports full funding of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I support full funding and implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future”
Supports universal pre-K and union career pathways
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“We must expand Universal Pre-K, well-resourced CTE programs, and partnerships with trade unions for career pathways.”

Rae Gallagher

No party listedIncumbent

Nonprofit executive director

The gist

Supports Policy 443 on transgender students
Supports media specialists' role in choosing materials
Supports expanding career tech education and career coaches
Supports Blueprint with local control over timelines

More about Rae

View sources (1)

Supports Policy 443 on transgender students
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“If re-elected, I will continue to support policy 443 and defend the rights of our LGBTQ+ community.”
Supports media specialists' role in choosing materials
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I fully support the expertise of our media specialists and our curriculum staff.”
Supports expanding career tech education and career coaches
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“investing in the expansion of our Career Technology Education program, implementing Career Coaches at the middle and high school levels”
Supports Blueprint with local control over timelines
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“funding must be prioritized and local jurisdictions should be given more autonomy over implementation timelines.”

Dean Rose

No party listedIncumbent

Insurance agent

The gist

Supports Policy 443 protections for transgender students
Opposes book bans
Supports expanding the Career Tech Center and dual enrollment
Supports Blueprint goals with sustainable local implementation

More about Dean

View sources (1)

Supports Policy 443 protections for transgender students
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I supported maintaining protections that ensure all students feel safe and respected in our schools, including transgender students.”
Opposes book bans
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I do not support book bans.”
Supports expanding the Career Tech Center and dual enrollment
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“expanding career and technical education by expanding our Career Tech Center and providing more offerings in our schools”
Supports Blueprint goals with sustainable local implementation
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Frederick County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I support the goals of the Blueprint, particularly strengthening the teaching profession and expanding career pathways for students.”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 2 issues covered in this race.