Supporting Common Sense Policies for Frederick County Public Schools Board of Education
Parents deserve a voice in their child’s education
We believe that children deserve the best educational experience in order to achieve academic excellence.
We affirm parents in their decisions to raise their children according to their own beliefs.
We want to see teachers receive the better work environments and pay that they deserve.
We support sensible spending that does not bankrupt Maryland’s taxpayers.
Who We Are
Tyler Walker
Tyler Walker is a formal Social Studies teacher with over 5 years of classroom instructional experience, most recently in Frederick County. Originally a substitute in central Pennsylvania, his first full time position was teaching 12th Grade Government and 10th Grade World History while assistant coaching football at Fauquier High School in Warrenton, Virginia. Upon returning from an overseas deployment, he then taught 8th Grade U.S. History at Monocacy Middle School while assistant coaching football at Catoctin High School.
Tyler has a Bachelor’s of Science in Education with a major in History from Shippensburg University, where he also earned a Commission into the Army National Guard by completing the ROTC program. The son of a pastor, Tyler has been homeschooled, attended public school, and graduated from a private high school.
He is currently a regional sales manager for an IT infrastructure manufacturer and an infantry officer in the Maryland Army National Guard, he is passionate about Students and wants to ensure all of FCPS receives a the best opportunity to achieve success.
Geoff Seidel
Geoffrey Seidel is a registered nurse who works as a clinical project manager for the clinical monitoring research program directorate at the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research.
He is also a professor at Mount St. Mary’s University and teaches classes for the institution’s business school and master’s of public health administration graduate program. He previously taught classes for Frederick Community College’s nursing program.
Additionally, Seidel is the treasurer of the Board of Directors for Trauma Responsive Frederick, and is the president of the Board of Directors for Marriage Resource Center of Frederick County.
Shelley Potter
Shelley is an experienced educator and school leader with over 15 years of teaching and administrative experience across the United States and internationally. A Frederick County native and graduate of local public schools, she holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from American University. Her career has included teaching, administration and curriculum development roles in Montgomery County Public Schools, Washington, D.C., the United Arab Emirates and Oman.
Overseas, Shelley served as Head of Primary at a private school in Oman and as Curriculum Coordinator for a five-campus International Baccalaureate school in the UAE, supporting educators and students from early childhood through secondary levels.
She has worked with students from Pre-K through college level and brings a deep understanding of how early academic experiences shape long-term student success.
Policy Issues
Academic Excellence
We believe in strengthening core curriculum and basic skills in reading, writing, math, and science. We support early intervention strategies and promote enrichment and advanced learning opportunities for all students.
Parental Rights
We support transparency in communication with parents, and ensuring their voice is heard in the education of their children. This means curriculum transparency, clear and timely communication, and upholding the parents’ role as the guide of their child’s education.
Fiscal Responsibility
The FCPS budget should directly support the classroom. We believe taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability in how funds are allocated - and that starts with a 0-based-budget. We will restore trust by prioritizing spending that supports students and teachers, not central office. We will evaluate programs based on results and value, not just intentions.
School Choice
We affirm that education is not a one-size-fits-all. Families should be empowered to choose the learning environment that best meets their child’s needs. We will support a range of high-quality program options like charter and technical schools, while also supporting parents who decide to homeschool or private school.
Teacher Support
We want to support and encourage our educators with competitive compensation and meaningful career development. We will strive to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and paperwork to allow for teachers to spend more time doing what they love. We will seek out appropriate resources and support to enable teachers, and we will encourage mentorship and collaboration among teachers.
Contact
Feel free to contact us with any questions.
Email
commonsenseforboe@gmail.com