School board

Board of Education Member, Washington County

Vote for: 3
Candidates: 5
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

Pieter Bickford

No party listed

The gist

Supports competitive pay to retain teachers.
Supports expanding apprenticeships and college courses in high school.
Proposes challenging state discipline law interpretations.
Supports expanding student mental health services.

More about Pieter

View sources (1)

Supports competitive pay to retain teachers.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will continue advocating for funding that keeps compensation competitive so we can retain the talented educators our students deserve.”
Supports expanding apprenticeships and college courses in high school.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“more chances to take college-level courses while still in high school, and expanded apprenticeships that connect students with real careers.”
Proposes challenging state discipline law interpretations.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“challenging state overinterpretation of discipline laws that prevent teachers from maintaining basic order in their classrooms.”
Supports expanding student mental health services.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“keeping salaries competitive, expanding mental health supports”

Robin A. Merchant-Spickler

No party listed

Retired teacher

The gist

Supports prioritizing teacher salaries in the school budget.
Supports career exploration beginning in middle school.
Pledges regular listening sessions with parents and students.
Supports funding school safety and mental health support.

More about Robin

View sources (1)

Supports prioritizing teacher salaries in the school budget.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will prioritize teacher salaries to recruit and retain the best educators in Washington County”
Supports career exploration beginning in middle school.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will support WCPS’s CTE pathways, career exploration beginning in middle school”
Pledges regular listening sessions with parents and students.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will hold regular listening sessions with parents and students”
Supports funding school safety and mental health support.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“fund school safety and mental health support, and invest in early childhood and CTE programs.”

Darrell E. Evans

No party listedIncumbent

Financial advisor

The gist

No documented position found.

More about Darrell

Mike Guessford

No party listedIncumbent

The gist

No documented position found.

More about Mike

Linda Murray

No party listedIncumbent

The gist

Supports more county help with state education mandates.
Supports funding new schools to relieve overcrowding.
Supports current dual-credit and trade programs.

More about Linda

View sources (1)

Supports more county help with state education mandates.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Unfunded mandates from the state are costly, and I would like to see the county work more collaboratively with the Board of Education”
Supports funding new schools to relieve overcrowding.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“explore all avenues to provide funding for additional schools to relieve overcrowding in our schools.”
Supports current dual-credit and trade programs.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Washington County Board of Education
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland Education Fund (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I support the current programs as stated above and others that fit the needs of our 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.