Great Big Blog

Today, I’m thrilled to announce two new voices joining MarylandCAN in the critical conversation needed to advocate for education reform in Maryland: Beth McCracken and Rhonda Shackleford Ulmer, winners of our School Reform Blogging Fellowship competition!

The School Reform Blogging Fellowship is a new platform for students, teachers and parents to share their stories about how education reform is impacting their classrooms, schools and communities.

As our blogging fellows, Beth and Rhonda will be reporting from the front lines of education reform. Don’t miss their debut on MarylandCAN’s blog over the next two Mondays! Click here to read Beth's first post.

In the meantime, I encourage you to get to know our new blogging fellows:

Beth is the mother of two Prince George's County Public Schools students and lifelong public school advocate. She has volunteered in her children’s schools, leading the drama troupe crew, tutoring students in math and reading and serving on the PTA. Beth is currently a member of the board of the Prince George's Couny Talented and Gifted Association. For three years, Beth coordinated a Learning for Life Character and Career Program in Washington, DC and Prince George's County public schools, training teachers, recruiting speakers and teaching workplace skills.

Rhonda Shackleford Ulmer is the mother of three Anne Arundel County Public Schools students. As a former Head Start and pre-K parent, Rhonda is passionate about issues affecting Maryland families, so much so that she founded University for Parents. Rhonda has been honored by the Points of Light on NBC, the Maryland Daily Record and National PTA for her work fostering parent, school and community partnerships.

I am honored to have Beth and Rhonda share their firsthand perspectives on what’s going on inside Maryland’s public schools and hope you will share your perspective too. Together we will make sure every Maryland child has access to a great public school, because great schools change everything.