Your guide to Kent County school board candidates, polling places for May 9 elections

While often sparsely attended in past years, school board meetings in some communities are becoming more crowded and controversial with topics like in-person vs. virtual instruction, mask mandates, safety concerns, bullying, transgender policies and parents' involvement in curriculum choices.

In Kent County, residents will have the chance to choose representatives on boards during elections Tuesday, May 9, in Smyrna, Caesar Rodney and Milford school districts, while three districts don't have elections – Capital, Lake Forest and Woodbridge – because candidates were unopposed.

How do I vote in Delaware school board elections? The basics

Voters must be at least 18 years old and live in the district where they are casting a ballot. Proof of ID and address will be requested, such as a driver's license, ID card or U.S. mail with street address. Being registered to vote in state and federal elections is not required, nor is having children in schools.

Polls will open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., May 9, with various locations across each district. Voters can also request an absentee ballot.

VOTE411 League of Women Voters school board election guide

Capital

No election. Incumbent candidate Sean P.M. Christiansen was unopposed for the four-year, at-large seat.

Delaware's school board election guide: Who's running in New Castle County?

More: What to know about school board elections in Sussex County. Elections to be held Tuesday.

Caesar Rodney, four-year term, at-large seat

Polling places

• Allen Frear Elementary, 238 Sorghum Mill Road, Camden-Wyoming

• W.B. Simpson Elementary, 5 Old North Road, Wyoming

• W. Reily Brown Elementary, 360 Webbs Lane, Dover

Tawanna Prophet Brinkley, Magnolia

Background: A school counselor in the Lake Forest District for seven years, Prophet Brinkley was previously a paraprofessional at Fifer Middle School and a preschool teacher for the Early Childhood Assistance Program. She has two children who have graduated from the CR District and one attending now. She’s served as a board member at Early College High School and for four years as first vice president for the national sorority Phi Delta Kappa-Alpha Pi Chapter. She declined to give her age or political party, saying, “I am not influenced by a political party and instead am running with the focus of what is in the best interest of our students. The group that will be influencing the decisions I make are the citizens of the Caesar Rodney School District, the families and the students.”

Issues: The top three factors that motivated her to run for the board are the need for equity, transparency and more parent engagement. She said the most important issues in districts across the country, not just in CR, are staff retention and safety.

While the district referendum April 22 didn’t pass, Prophet Brinkley said she was in favor of the plan: “The referendum would have allowed the district to increase educators' salaries and make needed repairs for our schools.”

As for controversial issues such as critical race theory, parental involvement in a district’s curriculum choices and transgender policies, she said she wouldn’t comment on critical race theory specifically but, “Culturally relative/culturally responsive teaching is a priority. I believe parental involvement in the district's curriculum choices should be taken into consideration. Regarding transgender policies, I believe we should treat all individuals like we would want to be treated and that is with love, respect and support.”

Nicole Hill, 44, Dover

Background: Hill is the Kent County coordinator for Read Aloud Delaware since March 2021, recruiting, training and coordinating volunteers to read in childcare centers and writing grant proposals to help fund the program. She worked for the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control as an environmental scientist and program manager. She has three children who attend district schools and listed her political affiliation as independent.

Issues: Hill decided to run for the board because, “I am a proud CR graduate and I received an excellent education that helped to prepare me for college and the workforce. I want the same, or better, for all of the students attending CR schools.” She is concerned about the safety of students and staff and heard other parents express concerns. “As a mom of three kids that attend schools in the district and a wife of a CR teacher, I felt that I could offer a unique perspective in these areas as well as many others.”

She said the top issue is the recruitment and retention of quality educators. She favors competitive pay, expanding the search for candidates by also recruiting outside Delaware and using alternative certification programs for those with degrees other than in education. She wants to encourage students interested in becoming teachers by promoting the high school’s education pathway.

As for the district referendum that failed April 22, Hill was initially against the plan, "but after attending one of the district meetings explaining the need for the referendum, I felt that I had a much better understanding of why it was necessary.” She said the district should improve communication with the community and explain what’s been done to cut expenses before asking for another referendum because an increase in taxes is difficult for most families, including hers. "However, it is challenging for the district to continue to provide high-quality programs as well as recruit and maintain quality educators without adequate operating funds,” she said.

On controversial issues like critical race theory, parental involvement in a district’s curriculum choices and transgender policies, Hill said, “Students should have access to a wide variety of educational resources. Schools should foster an environment that encourages the exploration of different perspectives and ideas while ensuring that materials are developmentally appropriate. I am in favor of parental involvement in the district’s curriculum choices.”

School boards should listen to families, review the curriculum, seek expert advice, consider alternatives and communicate the decisions transparently.

“All students have the right to access quality education without discrimination,” she said.

Emily Phelan, 40, Magnolia

Background: An Air Force veteran, Phelan also worked as a medical receptionist and is now a Realtor. She is the Allen Frear Elementary PTA vice president with a daughter who attends the school and a stepson who graduated from the district. As for political affiliation, she said she's fiscally conservative but more libertarian in her views that political/social agendas shouldn’t be part of public school education.

Issues: She was motivated to run for the board because teachers need help, students are falling behind particularly with low reading and math scores, and change is needed. She said the top issue in the district is disciplinary discrepancy. She favors examining discipline policies to make them more consistent, with more accountability and transparency. “We need to have ground rules. They need to be clear cut," Phelan said. "While younger children need more guidance in what is right and wrong, by the time the older students are getting ready to go out into the world, they need to be better prepared for the consequences of their actions.”

As for the district referendum that failed April 22, Phelan said she realizes the district needs help, but she was against this referendum because she wants more transparency about how the district is spending money. She believes schools need financial help, “but this was asking too much, too fast with too little information.”

On controversial issues like critical race theory, transgender policies and parental involvement in a district’s curriculum choices, Phelan said, “I’m all for parental rights in schools. More parents should be involved. That will help with accountability and teacher-parent relations. I also believe political and social agendas shouldn’t be part of school curriculum. Maybe we could have after-school programs for parents who want that for their children.”

Lake Forest

No election. Incumbent candidate Jordan McCloskey was unopposed for the four-year, at-large seat.

Milford, four-year term, at-large seat

Polling places

• Benjamin Banneker Elementary School, 449 North St., Milford

• Evelyn I. Morris Early Childhood Center, 8609 3rd St., Lincoln

• Lulu M. Ross Elementary School, 310 Lovers Ln., Milford

• Milford High School, 1019 N. Walnut St., Milford

Danielle W. Deinert, 34, Lincoln

Background: Deinert graduated from the Milford School District and two of her three children are enrolled in district schools. She serves as Parent Teacher Partnership president at Morris Early Childhood Center and serves on the Parent Teacher Partnership at Ross Elementary School. She coaches for the Milford Little League and Girls On The Run.

Deinert has a master's degree in special education and over 10 years of experience in teaching and administration. She declined to state her political party affiliation.

Issues: Deinert wants to focus on school safety, discipline, bullying, increasing family and community engagement and academic achievement.

Ashlee Connell, Milford

This candidate did not respond to requests for comments from Delaware Online/The News Journal.

District A

No election. Candidate Victor "Butch" Elzey III was unopposed for the four-year term.

District B

No election. Candidate Jennifer Massotti was unopposed for the one-year term.

Smyrna, four-year term, at-large seat

Polling places

• Smyrna Elementary, 121 S. School Lane, Smyrna

• Smyrna Middle School, 700 Duck Creek Parkway, Smyrna

• Kenton Ruritan Club, 249 S. Main St., Kenton

Marie Fontaine St. Pierre, 39, Smyrna

Background: A Realtor for nearly six years, Fontaine St. Pierre has a 17-year-old son who attends Smyrna High School. For four years, she's served on the town of Smyrna Board of Adjustment which rules on zoning variance requests. She’s a member of the Alpha Beta Gamma sorority at Delaware Technical Community College, the Holly’s Club and the Boys and Girls Club board. She declined to disclose her political party, advocating a neutral approach in school board elections.

Issues: Fontaine St. Pierre decided to run for the board because she wants to serve as “a liaison between parents, teachers and the community, providing the best resources for our children's education, and allowing parents to have the most influence in their children's life.” She wants to recognize and prioritize instructors' interests and concerns.

She said the most important issues in the district are continuing to push for high-quality, intellectually-rigorous education to prepare students for the competitive labor market, providing safe schools, confronting bullying and cyberbullying, and expanding self-esteem initiatives for students.

As for controversial issues such as critical race theory, transgender policies and parental involvement in a district’s curriculum choices, she said, “An inclusive educational system offers various advantages, including enhanced educational quality for all students and assisting students in becoming more responsive to an inclusive attitude. This could also help with behavioral issues, self-esteem, social skills, and community involvement. All students have the right to a challenging core education and outstanding instruction from well-trained educators. Students should be allowed to have an open and honest discussion about America's past, and they deserve to see themselves and the issues that impact them reflected in their classrooms and books.”

She encourages parents to attend board meetings to address issues and share comments and insights.

Bobbi Jo Webber, 44, Kenton

Background: A farmer for over 25 years along with her husband on their family’s farm, she has two children, a son who attends Smyrna High School and a daughter at Clayton Intermediate School. She’s volunteered for 10 years at Sunnyside Elementary and Clayton Intermediate School, running fundraisers, helping teachers in classrooms and hosting free field trips at her family’s farm. She declined to disclose her political party: “I believe that a school board election is not a political race."

Issues: Webber wanted to run for school board to improve safety, success of students, transparency and teacher compensation. She believes teachers and staff should hold students accountable for misconduct and follow through with consequences, but also favors hiring constables “who will help pull some of that responsibility off of the teachers so that they can focus on education.” She wants the administration to notify parents “about important issues that occur in the schools – the good and the bad.” She also favors competitive pay: “We cannot lose these amazing educators we have to neighboring districts because of financial reasons.”  

As for controversial issues such as critical race theory, transgender policies and parental involvement in a district’s curriculum choices, she said, “In my opinion, all races and groups should be represented in our classes. Our students should be exposed to a well-rounded curriculum. Bias and unfounded opinion do not belong in the classroom.”

On transgender policies, Webber said, “I believe that students can express themselves in a way that they feel is appropriate, although personal expression cannot become a distraction for other students. I do not approve of transgender students using the locker room or rest room of their choice of gender. I feel it could develop into an unsafe and distracting situation for other students."

In curriculum decisions, she said parents and community members should have their opinions represented, but they also need to trust educators to make decisions that will benefit students’ education.

Woodbridge

No election. Incumbent candidate Jeffrey W. Allen was unopposed for the four-year, at-large seat.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Kent County school board elections 2023: Your guide to candidates