Baltimore County Board Election: 2 Candidates Seek 1 Seat

Two candidates are competing for one open seat on the Baltimore County Board of Education in the 2026 election cycle. The position carries the authority to set district policy, hire the school system superintendent, and approve the annual budget. The board operates under a mixed model where some members are elected and others are appointed. Term lengths vary across the state.

The race features Candice Logan-Washington, 45, and Lisa A. Mack, 68. Logan-Washington holds four degrees, including a doctorate from Morgan State University. She spent nine years in district leadership roles at Baltimore County Public Schools between 2013 and 2022. Prior to that, she taught for 18 years, including a stint at Woodlawn High School. She also served as adjunct faculty at Morgan State University until 2024. Currently, she works as a director of research at Thread, Inc. and serves as a family caregiver for her aging parents.

Mack has a different professional background. She worked at Verizon for 28 years, from 1979 to 2007. She previously served on the Baltimore County Board of Education from 2018 to 2022. Since leaving the board, she has served as a court appointed special advocate and a licensed foster parent from 2021 to 2024. She also volunteers at Benedict’s Pantry and the Women’s Giving Circle. She holds a master’s degree in management from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland.

The candidates have outlined distinct policy priorities. Logan-Washington supports the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. She argues that the state plan strengthens academics and expands access to opportunity. She emphasizes the need for rigorous coursework, dual enrollment, and community schools that provide wraparound health and counseling services. She believes implementation requires fiscal caution but supports long-term goals.

On the topic of student devices, Logan-Washington supports reasonable restrictions on personal cellphones when they interfere with instruction. She argues that policies should distinguish between personal use and purposeful instructional technology. She rejects a single fixed screen-time limit for all students, noting that age and developmental stage matter. She cites guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics, suggesting schools consider the quality of content and whether it replaces physical activity or sleep.

Regarding math achievement, Logan-Washington calls for a coherent system rather than isolated interventions. She advocates for high-quality, research-based curricula and strong professional development for teachers. She wants timely remediation for students who fall behind and better alignment between K-12 standards and college requirements. She believes students need mastery experiences to build confidence in the subject.

Mack’s platform focuses on enrollment trends and library book selection. She states that declining enrollment requires thoughtful planning but warns against closing schools based on numbers alone. She suggests districts consider academic programming, transportation, and equity before making major decisions. She favors keeping communities together by sharing resources and creating stronger feeder patterns. To recruit families back, she highlights the need for strong academics, safe environments, and diverse pathways such as Career and Technical Education.

On library books, Mack argues that parents should have a meaningful voice in understanding available materials. She states that selection should remain a professional process guided by educational standards and age appropriateness. She supports transparency and intellectual freedom while allowing parents to request exemptions or alternative materials if they believe content affects their child’s well-being.