Shannon Hinkhaus

Education While technology can be a useful tool, it should be used sparingly – especially in grades K-8 -- and only with clear and specific purpose. Children need to first master core academic skills like reading, writing, and math before they become reliant on electronic devices or screens. No device should ever replace basic learning, real practice, or personal interaction with a human teacher. Education Parents—not government institutions—have the primary right to shape their children’s values and upbringing. That fundamental right does not end at the schoolhouse door. Teachers and administrators must honor and respect the role of parents and reflect – or at the very least not contradict -- the social, political, religious, and community values families want to instill in their children. Every parent must be able to trust that what is taught in our schools is fact-based, academically sound, and free from social agendas. Education While state-level laws, policies and court rulings in Maryland currently limit some options in local jurisdictions, our responsibility to protect students remains absolute. To this end, our girls need and deserve privacy and safety in bathrooms, locker rooms, and overnight spaces like the Hashawha Center, and deserve fairness and safety on the competitive playing field. These spaces have always been separated by sex for a reason -- privacy, safety, dignity, and fairness –and that is sensible policy. Within the bounds of the law, CCPS must do everything in its power to uphold these protections for our girls. Education The classroom must be an orderly place where teachers can teach and students who are ready and eager to learn are not held back by distractions, disruptions, or bullying. Firm, consistent discipline is not punishment -- it’s a loving way to protect and respect every child’s right to learn. Teachers deserve full support from leaders and administrators when they fairly enforce clear rules and expectations. When discipline is backed by leadership, classrooms become places of focus, respect, and effective learning. Education Academic outcomes are the most successful when parents and teachers work cooperatively together with a shared goal. Parents know their child best, while teachers know the curriculum and understand how to implement effective teaching strategies: when those strengths are effectively combined, students thrive. Open communication plus mutual respect and support create a stronger learning environment for every child. By partnering consistently, rather than working separately or even antagonistically, we can and will give students the consistent support they need to excel. Criminal Justice / Public Safety There can be no higher priority than the safety of our children – in the classroom, on school grounds, at school events, and on the way to and from the school building. The School Resource Officer (SRO) program in Carroll County Public Schools is a permanent and critical part of that safety plan, but as threats evolve, our funding, staffing, and planning must keep pace to meet today’s realities. Safety isn’t optional, and it isn’t a luxury—it’s the promise our schools must make and keep to every family. It must be our top priority. Education Carroll County Public Schools must ensure every student achieves real success in reading and math. If our children can’t master these fundamentals, we are failing them at the most basic level. We need less distraction stemming from cultural and social issues, fewer trendy initiatives, more focus on traditional successful teaching methods, and absolute accountability for measurable improvement in core academics. Let’s prioritize proven strategies that raise proficiency in reading and math, so every child has the tools to succeed.