Meet Ash

In 2022, Baltimore City held its first election for two school board seats to join a 10-member appointed board. Ash ran a grassroots campaign with her toddler in a hiking backpack and was the top vote-getter in both the general and primary elections. 🎉🎉🎉

She is the proud mother of a City Schools student and longtime community advocate, she takes great pride in being involved. Ash is an active neighbor living in Southwest Baltimore, works in Central West Baltimore, creates art in Old Goucher, and is deeply committed to the whole city.

Purpose Driven Values
Community, Accessibility, and Educational Equity

Professional Experience
Nonprofit Executive Director, Artist, and a former civil servant with 20 years of experience.

Leadership
Policy Committee Chair, Safety & Wholeness Committee Member, Strategic Planning Committee Member, Maryland Association of Boards of Education Equity Committee, Local Progress School Board Steering Committee

My why

I ran in 2022 because I believe the students most impacted by our schools have the clearest vision for change. As a public servant, I believe we can make our institutions more inclusive for those with the greatest needs, because when we do, it is better for all of us. I also have a deep belief that those with lived experience of challenges facing kids who need more support should be valued as a vital area of expertise on school boards.

I know these struggles firsthand. As a child, I lived in poverty, spent time in foster care, aged out into an independent living program, and faced homelessness. I also went through school with undiagnosed and unsupported learning disabilities, graduating with a 1.4 GPA, and struggled with employment, and desperately wanted to go to college but was unprepared. This was not because I lacked ability, but because I lacked support.

Now, as a neurodivergent mom raising a neurodivergent child and married to a former special education paraeducator, I am deeply committed to inclusion and support for every learner. When we build strong supports for those who need them most, every student benefits.

I share this story because I have turned survival into purpose. My “why” is not just about my own child or my own education experience. It is about every student who needs support or faces barriers to fully participating in the classroom.

accomplishments

  • Increase in individual schools’ star ratings…read more

  • Kindergarten readiness success…read more

  • Serving as Chair of the Policy Committee for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 school year.

  • Representing the board and district in ongoing conversations about improving student transportation. https://www.thebanner.com/education/k-12-schools/five-takeaways-transportation-solutions-panel-XNPBXJF4IJGS3BLUSHAVWBHAVE/

  • As a certified Blueprint Advocate, advocates for budget priorities that fund literacy support, career and technical education, teacher retention, and closing resource gaps between schools.

  • Collaborated with the district to strengthen policies and supports for youth in foster care and students experiencing homelessness.

  • A consistent advocate for early learning, multilingual learners, students with disabilities, arts education, vocational pathways, environmental justice, and students facing housing and foster care challenges.

    • Check out the City Schools 2025 landscape analysis for multilingual learners Read here

  • One of only 20 school board members nationwide certified in Empowered School Board Governance through a partnership with School Board Partners and Colorado State University Global.

  • Represents Baltimore City Public Schools on a state-level Equity Committee.

  • Developing essential infrastructure to ensure new board members are equipped with key information from day one to lead effectively and make lasting change.

  • Currently, I am part of the board tasked with hiring the next CEO who will lead the district into the future.