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Question: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Response: I'm Shebra Evans. I currently serve on the school board. I am coming to the end of my second term running for reelection. I have one daughter who graduated from Montgomery County Public Schools, one is currently in the school system. And this is a great public school system and I want to continue to do the work, making sure there are more access and opportunities for our students to reach their full potential. So just really looking forward to the conversation tonight and hearing what you all like about our school system and where you think some improvements can happen.
Question: Can you give us a summary of your main top goals of what you are trying to achieve?
Response: Sure. I am very much interested in making certain that every student [from] very early on has access to their learning, so I'm big on pre -K and expanding that. I would like to eventually make it a universal pre -K, so that's free to everybody, no matter what your income is. I also want to make certain that we can do more in the area of academics, creating more programs for our students. It doesn't matter where you live, what color your skin, your gender, like. I want you to be able to have those opportunities. I think it's important that we continue to have highly qualified teachers and educators in our school system, and I think it's important for there to be a lot of diversity. I think it's important that students see themselves up in front of the classroom and leadership roles so that they can see what they can become and what they can achieve. I want to level the playing field for students so that we're not creating opportunities where one area of the county or particular student group benefits more than another student group.
Question: As a previous board member, what do you think distinguishes you from new upcoming candidates?
Response: Most of my experience and my track record. So not only do I do work at the local level, I'm involved at the state level as well. I'm currently the treasurer for the Maryland State Association of Boards of Education.
I've been able to travel and go to national school board conferences where I can see and hear from other people what their best practices are and what I'm able to see and hear. The Montgomery County is really great.
A lot of things that other schools are trying to do, we're already doing it. So this is a good school system. I have two kids that really help inform my work. So as you all are going through experience, my kids are going through it too.
And I use them as guides when I make decisions. That outcome impacts not only them but their classmates and kids across the county. I have relationships developed at local, state level and federal level with our elected officials and they've been very supportive of the work that I've been able to do. And I've been able to see that achievements in the works that I have been doing for years.
Question: What type of long-lasting Legacy do you want to leave on MCPS?
Response: You know what I want people to remember me as a collaborator, someone who listened to them, someone that they felt like they could approach to talk to you and share their experiences and then feel like what they told me maybe they are going to see that in fields of work, see a difference and make a difference. That's a good question! I just want people to know that who you see and the work that I do and I'm very committed. I enjoy doing it. This is a part-time job. We make $35,000 a year, I don't do it for the money. I hope that I've impacted one student, one family member. I have been able to create a policy where it tackled our lunch problem. I was really concerned and wanted to ensure that we gave a lot of different meal options. I hope people will know all those things about me.
