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Board of Education Member · District 1 · Queen Anne's 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 Long Bent is an incumbent member of the Queen Anne's County Board of Education representing District 1, seeking re-election to a second term in 2026. A Church Hill resident and 14-year Queen Anne's County resident, she holds an Executive MBA from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland and works as a Program Manager at Engineering Solutions Inc. She first joined the board in November 2021 when Governor Larry Hogan appointed her to fill a vacancy in the District 1 seat left by Michele Morrissette. She was subsequently elected in 2022, defeating Chris Blanton, to serve a full four-year term. She is motivated by a desire to ensure all Queen Anne's County students have the same educational opportunities as her daughter, a QACPS graduate now in college studying veterinary medicine. She emphasizes that the school board is not a political position and that the focus must remain on students and their well-being. Her campaign priorities include school safety — including school resource officers and security vestibules — adequate funding for academic programs, increasing community involvement, and providing teachers a safe environment to teach the approved curriculum without political interference. She opposes book removals from school libraries, though supports age-appropriate access. She is running against Chris Blanton of Church Hill in a two-person nonpartisan race for the District 1 seat, with the general election on November 3, 2026.
Educational Equity
Addressing disparities in student access to resources and support within the school system.
““When a large portion of our community does not have access to the internet, when there are massive food inequities... we as a community have work to do.””
Student Safety and Inclusion
Ensuring students feel safe and accepted in their schools.
“...when students do not feel safe or accepted being themselves in their schools, we as a community have work to do.”
Educational Mission
Preparing graduates to be well-educated, globally competitive, and productive citizens.
“...make sure every QACPS graduate achieves our mission of being well-educated, globally competitive, and prepared to become a caring, productive citizen of the 21st Century.”
According to a March 1, 2022 article from Shore Update, Shannon Long Bent officially filed to run for the honor of representing QAC District One on the Board of Education. The report highlights her background as an appointee of Governor Larry Hogan and her history volunteering at schools where her daughter attended. External coverage notes that she seeks to ensure every student achieves the mission of being well-educated and prepared for the 21st Century, citing specific community needs like internet access and food equity.
“...make sure every QACPS graduate achieves our mission of being well-educated, globally competitive, and prepared to become a caring, productive citizen of the 21st Century.”
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