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Board of Education Member · Frederick 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 raceShelley Potter is a Frederick County native and educator with over 15 years of experience teaching and leading schools across the United States and internationally. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from American University and has worked in Montgomery County Public Schools, Washington D.C., the UAE, and Oman as Head of Primary at a private school and Curriculum Coordinator for an International Baccalaureate school. As a candidate for the Frederick County Board of Education, she focuses on five central priorities: academic excellence, fiscal responsibility, parental rights, school choice, and teacher support.
Sources: Campaign website
"Shelley Potter is a Frederick County native, educator, and school leader with more than 15 years of experience in both U.S. and international schools. She's seen firsthand what students and teachers need to thrive."
"As a former teacher, administrator, and curriculum leader, she's dedicated her career to strengthening instruction, supporting educators, and creating learning environments where every child feels safe, challenged, and supported."
"Shelley is running to bring common-sense leadership, real transparency, and a student-first mindset to the Frederick County Board of Education — ensuring academic excellence, strong teacher support, and a meaningful voice for families."
Source: potter4boe.com
Academic Excellence
Improving student test scores and overall achievement through well-researched curriculum and teaching methods that actually work, strengthening core curriculum in reading, writing, math, and science, supporting early intervention when students fall behind, and promoting enrichment and advanced learning opportunities for all students.
“"✔️ Improving student test scores and overall achievement through well-researched curriculum and teaching methods that actually work" and "Strengthen core curriculum in reading, writing, math, and science Support early intervention when students fall behind Promote enrichment and advanced learning opportunities for all students"”
Fiscal Responsibility
Directing more funding to students and teachers (not admin) without increasing taxes, ensuring taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability in how school funds are allocated, prioritizing spending that benefits students and teachers, and evaluating programs based on results and value.
“"✔️ Directing more funding to students and teachers (not admin) without increasing taxes" and "Prioritize spending that benefits students and teachers Increase transparency so families and taxpayers know how funds are used Evaluate programs based on results and value, not just good intentions"”
Parental Rights
Giving parents a clear voice in decisions that impact their child's health, safety, and education, ensuring curriculum transparency, supporting clear and timely communication with families, and upholding parents' role in guiding their child's education.
“"✔️ Giving parents a clear voice in decisions that impact their child's health, safety, and education" and "Ensure curriculum transparency Support clear and timely communication with families Uphold parents' role in guiding their child's education"”
School Choice
Supporting high-quality options including charter schools, CTC programs, and strong homeschool pathways that give families real choices, believing education is not one-size-fits-all, and empowering families to choose the learning environment that best meets their child's needs.
“"✔️ Supporting high-quality options — charter schools, CTC programs, and strong homeschool pathways — that give families real choices" and "Support a range of high-quality program options Encourage schools to develop strengths and areas of excellence Promote student-centered decision making"”
Teacher Support
Retaining great teachers with better pay, manageable workloads, and real behavioral support so they can focus on teaching, supporting competitive compensation and meaningful career development, reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and paperwork, and encouraging mentorship and collaboration among teachers.
“"✔️ Retaining great teachers with better pay, manageable workloads, and real behavioral support so they can focus on teaching" and "Support competitive compensation and meaningful career development Reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and paperwork Encourage mentorship and collaboration among teachers"”
According to campaign finance filings reported by The Frederick News-Post in January 2026, Shelley Potter was one of seven candidates who submitted reports out of eleven total candidates before the filing deadline. She filed during the reporting period from January 9, 2025 through January 14, 2026 for the primary election on June 23 and general election on November 3.
“"Shelley Potter is a Frederick County native, educator, and school leader with more than 15 years of experience in both U.S. and international schools"”
Source“"Academic Excellence Every student deserves a strong academic foundation. Our schools must prioritize high-quality instruction, a rigorous and well-sequenced curriculum, and clear academic benchmarks"”
Source“"Fiscal Responsibility The school budget should directly support the classroom. Shelley believes taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability in how school funds are allocated"”
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