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Retired teacher Jacqueline Fischer is running for a spot on the Washington County Board of Education because she wants to be "a voice for students and teachers," she said Monday.
"There needs to be someone on the board to speak on behalf of the students and teachers, and it needs to be someone who was recently there," Fischer said.
Fischer taught for 31 years, the last 29 of which she spent teaching English and journalism at Clear Spring High School.
Since retiring two years ago, Fischer has been working as a substitute teacher. She said she would stop substituting if elected to the school board.
Fischer, 56, of 13156 Independence Road, Clear Spring, said if elected she would be a board member to whom teachers would be comfortable going with their concerns.
"Teachers are afraid to speak out when they see problems because they fear retribution from principals, vice principals and even guidance counselors," Fischer said. "The teachers would be open with me. I know a lot of them and they know I'm on their side."
Fischer said she would like to review staffing "to see if there are too many administrators."
She said she wants to look into whether special education and emotionally disturbed students should be in regular classes with the general student population.
Teachers must spend a lot of time with the special students at the expense of the rest of the class, she said.
Fischer, a graduate of South Hagerstown High School, has a 32-year-old son. She and her husband, George, have been married for 33 years.
This is Fischer's first run for elected office.
School board members are paid $4,800 a year. The board president is paid $4,900 annually.
Three of the seven seats on the school board are at stake in this year's election.
As of Monday morning, the only other school board candidate was Russell Williams.
The candidate filing deadline is July 1.
Washington County Election Board Deputy Director Kaye Robucci said that if seven or more people file to run for School Board, there will be a primary election on Sept. 10.
The general election is Nov. 5.
