There’s a new chief of Montgomery County’s school board, and it’s at-large representative Shirley Brandman.
She’s a familiar face around the table at HQ. Brandman was the president in the 2008-2009 school year, and she is the current vice president, a position she had held twice before. Brandman was elected to her second four-year term on the school board in November 2010.
“Working with my board colleagues and our superintendent, Dr. Starr, we will continue to strive towards ensuring an outstanding education for every student in our schools,” Brandman said. “We must seize opportunities to strengthen our collaboration with the community and other elected officials as we face the ongoing challenges of limited resources and growing needs.”
An MCPS graduate herself, Brandman attended Yale College and Yale Law School, beginning her career as a lawyer representing abused and neglected children. She went on to earn a master’s degree in special education and learning disabilities.
During her time on the school board, Brandman has been chairwoman of the policy committee and the special population committee, and has been a member of the communications and public engagement committee. She was appointed by Gov. Martin O’Malley to the Proffessional Standards and Teacher Education Board and, in October, was elected the secretary of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education.
The current board president, Christopher Barclay, was elected vice president. He is up for election next year.
