HAGERSTOWN, Md. – Three candidates for the Washington County Board of Education are working together before the general election. They are highlighting their experience in public education, school board leadership, and community involvement.
Linda Murray, Pieter Bickford, and Robin Merchant-Spickler are running together as the “Pick Three” slate. They are seeking the three open seats on the Washington County Board of Education.
The candidates have been endorsed by the Washington County Teachers Association. They are focusing on academic achievement, recruiting and keeping teachers, career readiness, and supporting students.
Even though these candidates are campaigning together, the school board election is nonpartisan. Voters can choose up to three candidates.
Linda Murray seeks to continue school board service
Murray is a current board member and has served since 2017. She graduated from Washington County Public Schools and Hagerstown Community College. She also worked for 26 years as a special education paraprofessional at Salem Avenue Elementary School.
Her experience also includes serving as a PTA president, tutor and parent volunteer.
Murray has focused on making sure schools have enough funding, offering competitive salaries to employees, and keeping programs that support students from different educational backgrounds.
She also wants to expand educational programs that connect students with local employers and help them get ready for careers after graduation.
Her campaign stresses the need for the school board, Washington County commissioners, and other community members to work together on school funding and educational priorities.
Pieter Bickford brings previous board experience
Bickford is running for the Board of Education again after serving two previous terms.
While on the board before, he took part in eight budget cycles and helped select two superintendents.
Bickford has worked in journalism for 25 years in local media. He held positions at WHAG-TV and WBAL Radio, and later worked as marketing director at HighRock.
His campaign focuses on raising academic achievement, improving teacher recruitment and retention, and giving students more educational opportunities.
Bickford stresses that students should develop strong reading skills by third grade. He also supports giving students access to technology and academic resources.
He supports career and technical education, apprenticeships, and letting students earn college credits while still in high school.
He also focuses on student mental health services and better communication between the school system and families.
Robin Merchant-Spickler emphasizes classroom experience
Merchant-Spickler is a retired educator from Washington County and has 44 years of teaching experience.
She taught in both Title I schools and suburban classrooms, so she has experience with students from many educational and socioeconomic backgrounds.
She has also participated in school system advisory committees.
Merchant-Spickler’s campaign focuses on raising academic achievement, keeping schools safe, and ensuring teachers have the resources they need to support students.
She supports competitive salaries for educators, more classroom support staff, and better access to behavioral health services.
She also wants to strengthen early childhood education and expand career and technical education, including apprenticeships and trade certifications.
Merchant-Spickler believes talking with teachers, parents, and students is an important part of making school board decisions.
Candidates receive teachers association endorsement
The Washington County Teachers Association endorsed Murray, Bickford, and Merchant-Spickler in April after its candidate questionnaire and interviews.
The association’s endorsement is based on how the candidates responded to questions about public education and school employee issues.
Since then, the three candidates have promoted their campaign together as the Pick Three slate.
Their campaign brings together a current board member, a former board member, and a longtime classroom teacher.
The candidates share priorities like improving academic performance, school funding, retaining teachers, and helping students prepare for college or jobs.
Five candidates compete for three seats
Murray, Bickford, and Merchant-Spickler are three of five candidates running for three seats on the Washington County Board of Education.
Darrell Evans and Mike Guessford are also running in the general election.
The Washington County Teachers Association said that Evans and Guessford did not take part in its endorsement process.
School board members oversee policies, budgets, and other decisions that affect Washington County Public Schools.
This election comes as the school system works on academic performance, staffing, student services, and the costs of running programs and facilities.
After the general election, voters will choose three candidates to serve on the board.
