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Board of Education Member · Carroll 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 raceShannon Hinkhaus is a lifelong Carroll County resident who graduated from Westminster High School and McDaniel College (formerly Western Maryland College) with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Accounting. She worked as a financial analyst at Mercy Medical Center, paused her career to raise three children who are recent CCPS graduates, then returned to work as a bookkeeper for a private school and currently works at a local law firm as a legal assistant. A substitute teacher and volunteer in her children's schools, she now serves on the Family Life Advisory Committee where she chaired the committee for 2024-2025 and helped develop the Carroll County Family Life Framework allowing parents to opt their children out of lessons discussing sexual orientation and gender identity. Running for Board of Education Member, she advocates for traditional educational values, fiscal responsibility, student safety, academic fundamentals in reading and math, and strong partnerships between parents and teachers.
Sources: Campaign website
Strong Schools. Strong Families. Strong Future.
As a member of the Carroll County Board of Education I will work to ensure that all CCPS students get a high quality education in a safe setting, that parents can continue to trust our schools to educate and not indoctrinate, that taxpayers can be confident their money is spent efficiently and wisely, and that teachers can feel supported and validated through policy and support systems in and out of the classroom.
I want parents today to feel the same confidence and comfort I did when my kids started in CCPS 18 years ago -- when Carroll County's traditional educational and community values guided our schools, and classrooms were places for learning, not activism.
Safety isn't optional, and it isn't a luxury—it's the promise our schools must make and keep to every family.
We need less distraction stemming from cultural and social issues, fewer trendy initiatives, more focus on traditional successful teaching methods, and absolute accountability for measurable improvement in core academics.
Source: shannonforcarroll.com
Student Safety
Ensuring safety of children in classroom, school grounds, events, and transportation. Supports School Resource Officer program with adequate funding, staffing, and planning to meet evolving threats.
“There can be no higher priority than the safety of our children – in the classroom, on school grounds, at school events, and on the way to and from the school building.”
Academic Fundamentals
Ensuring every student achieves real success in reading and math through proven strategies rather than trendy initiatives. Focuses on traditional successful teaching methods with accountability for measurable improvement.
“Carroll County Public Schools must ensure every student achieves real success in reading and math. If our children can't master these fundamentals, we are failing them at the most basic level.”
Appropriate Technology Use
Technology should be used sparingly especially in grades K-8 with clear purpose. Children need to first master core academic skills before becoming reliant on electronic devices.
“While technology can be a useful tool, it should be used sparingly – especially in grades K-8 -- and only with clear and specific purpose.”
Student Discipline
Classroom must be orderly where teachers can teach without disruptions. Firm, consistent discipline protects every child's right to learn and is backed by leadership support.
“Firm, consistent discipline is not punishment -- it's a loving way to protect and respect every child's right to learn.”
Parents Partnering with Teachers
Academic outcomes succeed when parents and teachers work cooperatively. Open communication plus mutual respect create stronger learning environment.
“Academic outcomes are the most successful when parents and teachers work cooperatively together with a shared goal.”
Respecting Parents and Family Values
Parents have primary right to shape children's values. Schools should not contradict social, political, religious, and community values families want to instill.
“Teachers and administrators must honor and respect the role of parents and reflect – or at the very least not contradict -- the social, political, religious, and community values families want to instill in their children.”
Standing up for our Girls and their Private Spaces
Protecting privacy and safety in bathrooms, locker rooms, and overnight spaces. These spaces have always been separated by sex for privacy, safety, dignity, and fairness.
“To this end, our girls need and deserve privacy and safety in bathrooms, locker rooms, and overnight spaces like the Hashawha Center, and deserve fairness and safety on the competitive playing field.”
Accountability and Fiscal Responsibility
Every dollar spent was earned by taxpayers. Board members must be responsible stewards ensuring resources reach classroom where they matter most.
“Careful budgeting ensures that appropriate resources reach the classroom where they matter most, and that taxpayer money is not wasted.”
“Carroll County Public Schools must ensure every student achieves real success in reading and math. If our children can't master these fundamentals, we are failing them at the most basic level.”
Source“There can be no higher priority than the safety of our children – in the classroom, on school grounds, at school events, and on the way to and from the school building.”
Source“Every dollar spent in our schools was earned by you, the taxpayer. School board members must be responsible stewards of that money.”
Source