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Board of Education Member · District 3 · Montgomery County · 2026 Primary
Members of the Board of Education oversee the local public school system by setting educational policies, approving the annual operating budget, and hiring the superintendent. They make key decisions on matters such as student curriculum, school boundaries, and the maintenance of school facilities. This office is important because its members determine how tax dollars are spent to support student learning and the overall quality of schools in the community.
View all candidates in this raceSally A. McCarthy is a former committee chair for the Montgomery County Council of PTAs (MCCPTA) who filed to run for District 3 seat on the Montgomery County Board of Education in the 2026 race. Born in Silver Spring and raised in North Potomac, she lives in Chevy Chase and comes from an MCPS family as the daughter of two MCPS teachers; her husband and both daughters are also MCPS graduates. She holds a BA in Government & Politics, MA and PhD in Education Policy from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she currently serves on the College of Education's Board of Visitors after holding various teaching and research positions including assistant director of the College Park Scholars Public Leadership Program. Her volunteer work began as local PTA President and grew into countywide advocacy for families, students and staff, serving four years as area Cluster Coordinator for Walt Whitman community before leading MCCPTA advocacy work on the Executive Committee and CIP budget chair role.
Sources: Campaign website
Safe and Supported Schools for All Students and Staff. My problem-solving approach always begins by seeking conversation with students, families, teachers and staff.
I am in the community with you, and I hear you. If elected, I will serve and act with this mindset everyday.
MCPS must be fiscally aligned to achieve the goals in its strategic plan, including the benchmarks required by the Maryland Blueprint.
Information is the currency that empowers families to make important decisions, together with their students.
Source: sallymccarthy.org
Safe Schools
Ensuring schools are safe places for learning and teaching for all students and staff through authentic dialogue and shared purpose
“We need our schools to be safe places for learning and teaching, for all students and staff. My problem-solving approach always begins by seeking conversation with students, families, teachers and staff.”
School Facilities Maintenance
Addressing systemwide school maintenance crisis including HVAC, plumbing and roofing failures that disrupt the school day
“Students and teachers should walk into clean, well-kept and secure school buildings everyday. But years of budgeting to add seats and space has compromised schools, resulting in a systemwide school maintenance crisis.”
Accessible Communications
Clear communication delivered in languages and formats accessible to all, including reporting on student performance, academic progressions, IEP/504 plans and career program pathways
“Information is the currency that empowers families to make important decisions, together with their students. MCPS communication should not require decoding; it should be clear and delivered in languages and formats accessible to all.”
Budget Transparency
Fiscally aligned budget processes with public facing data about planned and completed facilities improvements, including repairs
“Diligent oversight and transparency in the budget processes. Families and staff should have access to public facing data about MCPS planned and completed facilities improvements, including repairs.”
Class Size Optimization
Revisiting class size discussions especially for youngest learners with ratios that optimize rigorous reading and math instruction
“We need to revisit class size discussions, especially for the youngest learners. Class sizes must prioritize ratios that optimize rigorous reading and math instruction.”
Cross-Sector Partnerships
Creative partnerships across County and Maryland to help sustain and grow schools including school facilities improvements, safety, academic and career pathways
“MCPS does not exist in an economic silo; it must shed the habits that hinder relationship building across County agencies and other sectors.”
According to Bethesda Magazine, McCarthy filed to run for District 3 seat on the Montgomery County school board after filing Thursday with the state elections board. She is described as a former committee chair for MCCPTA who joined the 2026 race alongside incumbent Grace Rivera-Oven. The article notes that her website and social media pages listed with her campaign are not yet active, and she did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment about her candidacy.
“I am a trusted community leader and dedicated education professional with 25+ years of experience in policy research, advocacy and teaching.”
Source“HVAC, plumbing and roofing failures disrupt the school day. Families and staff should have access to public facing data about MCPS planned and completed facilities improvements, including repairs.”
Source“MCPS must be fiscally aligned to achieve the goals in its strategic plan, including the benchmarks required by the Maryland Blueprint.”
Source“I have advocated for school construction and facilities funding, lower class sizes, proportional staffing and student-counselor ratios before the Board and the Council.”
Source