ISSUES

Curriculum

Improve the focus on education’s “tip of the spear” teaching and learning. Ensure the curriculum roadmap reflects contemporary needs of society. For example, in the 1970s, computer science was heavily emphasized in response to widespread computer access and use. To re-establish national competitiveness students, need the right curriculum now that will face the ever-changing technological winds of AI, automation and globalization. Improve science and math curriculum via public private partnerships. Schools need to focus on teaching student's skills that will give them success whether it's learning a new trade after they graduate high school or better preparing them to enter college. Frederick County schools need to get back to the 'basics' of reading and writing.

School Administration

Sam believes in balancing and reducing administration workload within Frederick County Public schools and put a stronger emphasis on teachers' goals and needs for educating students. Schools must be a safe place for students to learn and grow, and administrators must have accurate and true metrics not those that seemingly benefit them personally. Sam believes in accountability for bad actors within the school system.

Nutrition & Wellness

Frederick County Public Schools should improve nutritional standards in food programs that are very low compared to academically competitive countries such as Japan and France. As a result, students overly rely on proceed foods high in sugar, a poor foundation of staying focused in the classroom. Students need to stay regularly active, and Sam supports implementing the Junior Reserves Officer Training (JROTC) program, that is federally sponsored at 20 high schools in 10 of Maryland's counties.

Budget

Sam believes the school board must be fiscally responsible in how they look at crafting budgets, reviewing standards and needs and how to standardize oversight to the taxpayers. Sam believes prioritizing students on the front lines when facing budget decisions and encourage budget cuts for non-student facing positions.

Frederick County Public School Facts

• For the 2026 school year, there are 3 public charter schools
serving 1,042 students in Frederick, MD

• The top-ranked public charter schools in Frederick, MD are Frederick Classical Charter, Monocacy Valley Montessori and Carroll Creek Montessori Public
Charter. Overall testing rank is based on a school’s
combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking

• Frederick, MD public charter schools have an average math
proficiency score of 39% (versus the Maryland public charter
school average of 17%) and reading proficiency score of 60%
(versus the 36% statewide average). Charter schools in
Frederick have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top
20% of Maryland public charter schools