3 Residents Appointed To Harford County Board Of Education

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Three people have been appointed to the Harford County Board of Education following a public call for applications in December. Dr. Aaron Poynton, Theresa Kocher and Lauren Strauss have been appointed to serve two-year terms ending in 2025.

“I am pleased to appoint three highly qualified individuals who will focus on delivering a world-class education to Harford County children,” Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly said.

The school board currently has six elected members including three who were appointed by
Gov. Larry Hogan. Legislation approved by the 2022 Maryland General Assembly transferred
appointment authority from the governor to the Harford County executive and required executive
appointments to be made within 90 days of the November general election. The new appointees will serve two-year terms.

Joppatowne resident Poynton is the first in his family to attend college and has since earned four advanced degrees, including an MBA from Duke University and a doctorate in public administration from the University of Baltimore. He is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. Poynton is also a U.S. Army Special Operations veteran with more than 20 years of global experience in the public and private sectors. His three children attend Harford County Public Schools and he serves as president of the Harvard Business School AMP Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing educational opportunities and STEM scholarships.

Kocher earned her master’s degree in systems management from the University of Florida and a
bachelor’s degree in psychology from Salisbury University. She completed the Senior Executive Fellow Program and Harvard University’s JFK Business School. She is a retired Army civilian analyst, the grandmother of two students attending Harford County Public Schools. While raising her family in Churchville with her husband, a retired teacher, Kocher taught Sunday school and was a longtime member of her church’s nursery school and day care center board.

Strauss is a parent of two Havre de Grace High School students and an active member of her school community. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and criminal justice from James Madison University. A project manager for a small business in the defense community, Strauss is experienced in program, financial and acquisition management. She is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for the children of Harford County.