Written by CAPA-JRC reporters Evelyn Shue & Joy Jiang
In the evening of January 22, 2022, nearly a hundred participants gathered on Zoom to support the campaign and candidacy of Julie Yang for District 3’s vacant seat on Montgomery County Public Schools’ Board of Education. The night kicked off with anecdotes and endorsements from Yang's friends and community advocates Ting-Mei Chau and Dr. Paul Li, followed by a self-introduction by Yang herself.
She first and foremost emphasized the importance of education in shaping a child’s growth and career paths. Acknowledging education as a core value especially among members of the Chinese American community, she shared a little about the transformative role education played in her own life, being descended from a line of teachers and educators. She went on to explain the significance of the Board of Education and its members’ responsibilities of voicing the hopes and concerns of their constituents, thus formally announcing her candidacy that night. Her campaign slogan Every Child Deserves a Chance for a Brighter Future.
Yang’s campaign platform consists of three main pillars: college and career preparation, community engagement, and student well-being. Through college and career preparation, she plans to expand individualized learning plans for students, with additional course offerings in computer science, environmental science, business, and world languages. She also hopes to increase transparency in BOE decision-making and work with community members for input. As for student well-being, Yang intends to hire more counselors and psychologists for mental health support in schools. Looking to the future, she aims to plan for other unexpected crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, to stabilize students’ education throughout MCPS.
Yang’s presentation was succeeded by more endorsements of her candidacy from various members of the community from all walks of life. A longtime educator with a Master’s degree in education, a current MCPS employee and a mother, Yang has worked with countless members of the community in promoting various causes. She thus holds a wealth of unique experiences and a deep understanding of various perspectives. “You are the best of both cultures,” former BOE member Dr. Alan Cheung said to her. “The BOE will benefit from your diverse background, your cultural background, your experiences and your DNA in education.”
More information about Yang, her platform, and how to support her can be found at Yang’s campaign website, https://www.julieyang.org/.
This article was provided by Chinese American Parents Association Junior Reporter Club (CAPA JRC) with members who interviewed, audio recorded, wrote, translated, and video recorded. CAPA JRC has 25 Montgomery County middle to high school students. They have created a bilingual platform delivering news and serving the community.
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