2026 Candidate Spotlight: Meet Erica K. Bennett

FORT WASHINGTON, MD — Erica K. Bennett has entered the race for Prince George's County Board of Education District 9. Patch posed questions to each candidate running for office.

Below you will find Bennett's responses, verbatim:

Name: Erica K. Bennett
Age on Election Day: 54 (Primary) 55 (General)
Place of Residence: Fort Washington, MD
Political Affiliation: Non-Partisan
Email address: electericakbennett@gmail.com
Campaign website/Facebook page: ericakbennett.com and www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581221796428

Do you have any previous political experience?
No, this is my first time running for elected office. However, leadership and advocacy have been a consistent part of my life for as long as I can remember. From serving as a class representative in elementary and middle school, to Vice President of my junior class, to leadership roles in civic, professional, labor, and faith-based organizations, I have always been willing to step forward, listen to others, and work toward solutions.

Throughout my career, I have served as President of Kappa Psi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Recording Secretary for Women in Ministry of the Washington Conference in the AME Church, a union representative, and a school leader responsible for advocating for students, families, and educators. These experiences have taught me how to build consensus, navigate complex issues, steward resources responsibly, and make decisions that keep people at the center of the work.

While I am new to politics, I am not new to leadership, accountability, or public service. In many ways, this campaign is simply an extension of what I have done throughout my life which is serving others, bringing people together, and working to improve outcomes for the communities I care about. When elected, I will bring the perspective of a practitioner, not a politician.

As a sitting principal, I understand how policies impact classrooms, educators, students, and families because I experience those realities every day. My focus will remain on results, strong governance, and ensuring that decisions made at the Board table translate into meaningful outcomes for children. For me, this has never been about politics. It is about purpose, service, and the responsibility to use my experience to help strengthen our schools and community.

What do you believe is the single-most important issue facing voters in the district you’re looking to represent? How do you intend to address those issues?

The single most important issue facing our district is student achievement. While there are many other priorities, school safety, attendance, staffing, budget decisions, and family engagement, ultimately the purpose of our school system is to ensure that every student learns, grows, and is prepared for success. When student achievement is not where it needs to be, we must be willing to honestly examine why and take action.

As a sitting principal, I see firsthand that strong outcomes do not happen by accident. Student achievement improves when we have excellent teachers, strong instructional leadership, aligned systems, and a relentless focus on teaching and learning. It also requires us to address barriers that interfere with learning, including chronic absenteeism, staffing shortages, and inequitable access to support.

When elected, I will focus on ensuring that every Board decision is evaluated through one question: How will this improve outcomes for students? That means investing in teacher recruitment and retention, strengthening instructional support, protecting instructional time, using data to drive decision-making, and holding ourselves accountable for results.

It also means ensuring that resources are directed where they are needed most and that successful practices are scaled across the district. For the past 25 years, I have worked inside our schools helping students achieve at higher levels. I understand both the opportunities and the challenges because I live them every day. I am running to bring that practical experience to the Board table and to help ensure that policies are not just well-intended, but impact the classroom to translate into improved achievement.

How do you differ from other candidates running against you?

What distinguishes me is that I am currently doing the work and I mean really doing the work. As a sitting principal, I am responsible every day for leading a school, managing multiple budgets, monitoring instruction, implementing district policies, reviewing curriculum, supporting teachers, analyzing data, engaging families, and ensuring that hundreds of children receive a high-quality education.

I am not viewing our schools from the outside. I am boots on the ground in a school building every single day. For more than 25 years, I have served Prince George’s County Public Schools as a teacher, instructional leader, assistant principal, and principal. I understand the realities facing our schools because I experience them firsthand. When new initiatives are introduced, I help implement them. When policies are adopted, I am responsible for translating them into practice.

When challenges arise, I work with teachers, families, and staff to find solutions that keep students at the center. I also bring a unique combination of perspectives as a PGCPS graduate, the parent of two PGCPS graduates, an educator, a school leader, and a pastor. Those experiences have taught me how to listen, build consensus, steward resources responsibly, and lead through both challenges and opportunities.

Most importantly, I understand the connection between governance and implementation. School boards establish policy, but schools are where those policies come to life. I know firsthand what happens when decisions made at the Board table are aligned with the needs of schools, and what happens when they are not. My campaign is rooted in the belief that every decision should strengthen teaching and learning, support educators, and improve student achievement.

I am not seeking this role as a stepping stone to another office. I am seeking it because I believe my experience can help ensure that Board decisions remain connected to the realities of classrooms and focused on results for children. I am rooted in the work and committed to leading with purpose.

How would your work experience benefit the goals/objectives you’ve outlined in your campaign and/or the office you’re seeking?

My work experience is directly aligned with the goals and priorities I have outlined throughout this campaign because I have spent my career doing the very work that Board policies are intended to support. For more than 25 years, I have served Prince George’s County Public Schools as a teacher, instructional leader, assistant principal, and principal. As a sitting principal, I am responsible for leading instruction, managing multiple budgets, implementing district initiatives, reviewing curriculum, supporting teachers, analyzing student achievement data, engaging families, and ensuring that resources are used effectively to meet the needs of students.

Those responsibilities have given me firsthand knowledge of both the opportunities and challenges facing our schools. My campaign is centered on improving student achievement, supporting and retaining high-quality educators, strengthening accountability, and ensuring that policies translate into meaningful outcomes in schools. My experience allows me to approach these issues not only from a governance perspective, but from an implementation perspective. I understand what schools need to be successful because I work in that environment every day.

In addition, my experience as a pastor and community leader has strengthened my ability to listen, build relationships, navigate complex issues, and bring people together around a common purpose. Effective leadership requires more than making decisions; it requires collaboration, communication, and a commitment to serving others.

When elected, I will bring the perspective of a practitioner to the Board of Education. I understand how decisions made at the Board table impact classrooms, teachers, students, and families. That experience will help me advocate for policies that are practical, effective, and focused on results. Ultimately, my work experience has prepared me to help bridge the gap between policy and practice. I believe Board members have a responsibility to ensure that decisions are not only well-intended, but that they lead to measurable improvements in student achievement and educational opportunities for all children.

What is your opinion of the work being done by the current office holder, and how will you improve on it? If that is you - how do you plan to continue improving upon what you've already accomplished?

I respect anyone who is willing to serve. It is true that the labor is plentiful but the workers are few. With that, I recognize that the current office holder is still relatively new to the position. Because she was appointed rather than elected, voters have not yet had the opportunity to fully evaluate her record through the electoral process. I have seen her present at events and community activities, and visibility is certainly an important part of public service.

However, I believe effective representation also requires consistent engagement when the cameras are off which means spending time in schools, listening to educators and families, understanding implementation challenges, and seeing firsthand how policies and budgets impact students every day.

That perspective is what I bring to this race. As a sitting principal, I do not have to wonder how Board decisions affect schools. I am responsible for implementing those decisions every day. I lead instruction, review curriculum, manage multiple budgets, support teachers, engage families, analyze student achievement data, and work directly with students and staff. I understand the realities of our schools because I live them.

When elected, I will continue to be visible in the community, but I will also remain deeply connected to the day-to-day work happening inside our schools. I believe the strongest Board members are not only present at public events, but also informed by what is happening in classrooms, hallways, faculty meetings, and school communities across the district.

Ultimately, my goal is not to be the most visible representative. My goal is to be the most effective representative, ensuring that every decision made at the Board table leads to better outcomes for students.

How do you feel about the school system in your area and what improvements would you like to see be made?

I believe Prince George’s County Public Schools are filled with tremendous potential. Every day, I see dedicated educators, talented students, supportive families, and school leaders who are working hard to create opportunities for children. There is much to be proud of, and I believe our school system has the capacity to be one of the highest-performing districts in the nation.

At the same time, we must be honest about the areas where improvement is needed. Student achievement must remain our top priority. While we have pockets of excellence across the district, too many students are still not performing at the levels they are capable of achieving. We must strengthen instruction, support teachers, and ensure that every child has access to a high-quality educational experience regardless of their zip code.

I would also like to see continued focus on teacher recruitment and retention. Teachers have the greatest in-school impact on student achievement, and we must remain competitive in attracting, developing, and retaining highly effective educators. In addition, I believe we must strengthen accountability and alignment throughout the system.

Good ideas and policies only matter if they translate into results in classrooms. Every decision regarding curriculum, staffing, professional development, budgeting, and resources should be evaluated by one question: How does this improve outcomes for students? Finally, I would like to see stronger partnerships between schools, families, and the community.

Student success is a shared responsibility, and when schools and communities work together, children benefit. As a sitting principal, I see both the strengths and the challenges of our system every day. That perspective gives me confidence that improvement is possible. We do not need to start over, we need to build on what is working, address what is not, and remain relentlessly focused on student achievement. At the end of the day, our success should be measured not by the programs we adopt, but by the outcomes our students achieve.

How do you feel about crime in your area and what steps can be taken to reduce it?

Like many communities, we are concerned about crime and the impact it has on families, neighborhoods, and young people. While the Board of Education does not oversee law enforcement, I believe schools play a critical role in both prevention and opportunity. From a school perspective, some of the challenges we face include fighting, bullying, theft, chronic absenteeism, and behaviors that disrupt learning.

These issues affect school climate, student achievement, and the sense of safety that every child and educator deserves. As a principal, I have learned that we cannot simply react to behavior. Instead, we must address its root causes. Students need clear expectations, accountability, and consistent consequences, but they also need support, positive relationships, and opportunities to succeed.

When students feel disconnected from school, struggle academically, or believe no one sees their potential, they are more likely to make poor choices. That is why I believe one of the most important responsibilities of our school system is to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline. We must ensure that discipline practices hold students accountable while also helping them learn from mistakes, remain connected to school, and continue progressing toward graduation and future success.

This requires a balanced approach that includes strong classroom management, restorative practices, mental health supports, mentoring programs, social-emotional learning, and meaningful family engagement. It also requires us to identify struggling students early and intervene before problems escalate. I firmly believe that improving student achievement is one of the most effective crime prevention strategies available to us.

Students who are reading on grade level, attending school consistently, participating in extracurricular activities, building positive relationships with adults, and preparing for college, careers, or entrepreneurship are far less likely to become involved in the juvenile justice system. This is also a matter of equity and justice. Every child, regardless of their background, neighborhood, or circumstances, deserves access to safe schools, high-quality instruction, and the support necessary to reach their full potential.

Our responsibility is not only to keep students safe today, but to help create pathways that lead them toward opportunity rather than involvement with the justice system. Ultimately, I believe the goal is not simply to reduce negative behavior. The goal is to develop educated, engaged, and empowered young people who contribute positively to their communities. When we invest in children, we strengthen families, schools, and society as a whole.

What do you think about the economic climate and business sector in your community, and what initiatives could propel it forward?

I believe the economic strength of a community and the success of its schools are deeply connected. Businesses need a skilled workforce, and schools play a critical role in preparing that workforce. When our schools succeed, our economy becomes stronger. When our economy is strong, families and communities thrive.

One of the greatest opportunities in Prince George's County is to strengthen the connection between education and workforce development. We should be intentional about building partnerships between schools, local businesses, higher education institutions, labor organizations, and community groups so that students can see clear pathways from the classroom to careers.

At the same time, we must recognize that not every student will follow a traditional path into the workforce. Some of our students are future entrepreneurs, innovators, and business owners. We should expose students to financial literacy, entrepreneurship, business development, and leadership opportunities at an early age.

I would love to see more opportunities for students to create businesses, participate in entrepreneurship programs, pitch ideas, develop products, and learn what it takes to build and sustain a successful enterprise. Today's student entrepreneur may become tomorrow's employer, creating jobs and economic opportunity right here in Prince George's County.

As a Board of Education member, I would support efforts to expand internships, apprenticeships, mentorships, dual-enrollment opportunities, career and technical education programs, and industry partnerships that expose students to high-demand careers while they are still in school. Students should graduate not only with academic knowledge, but with the skills, experiences, and professional networks necessary to compete in today's economy.

I also believe one of the most important economic development strategies available to us is improving student achievement. Businesses are attracted to communities with strong schools because they want access to a highly skilled workforce and because employees want to live in communities where their children can receive an excellent education.

As a principal, I understand that workforce development begins long before a student applies for a job. It begins with strong literacy skills, critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and the ability to adapt and learn. Those skills are developed in classrooms every day.

Finally, I would like to see even stronger partnerships between our schools and local employers. Our students should have opportunities to learn directly from professionals in fields such as healthcare, technology, education, public service, skilled trades, entrepreneurship, and business. These partnerships help students see what is possible while helping employers build the workforce they will need in the future.

Ultimately, I believe the best investment we can make in our local economy is investing in our students. Whether they become employees, entrepreneurs, skilled tradespeople, educators, healthcare professionals, or business owners, our responsibility is to prepare them for success. When we prepare young people for success, we strengthen our workforce, attract businesses, support families, and create a more prosperous future for our entire community.

How do you feel about transportation options in the area and what, if anything, should be improved upon?

Transportation is an essential service because for many students, the school day begins and ends on a bus. When transportation works well, students arrive at school safely, on time, and ready to learn. When transportation is inconsistent, it impacts attendance, instructional time, family schedules, and student achievement.

One of the biggest transportation challenges facing our school system has been the ongoing shortage of qualified bus drivers. Across the nation, school districts have struggled to recruit and retain transportation staff, and Prince George's County has experienced those challenges as well. Driver shortages can result in delayed routes, longer ride times, and disruptions for families who depend on reliable transportation.

As a school leader, I have seen firsthand how transportation challenges affect students and families. A late bus can become an attendance issue, a learning issue, and a family engagement issue. Every minute of instructional time matters. I believe we must continue to focus on recruiting and retaining qualified bus drivers by offering competitive compensation, improving working conditions, and creating pathways for individuals interested in joining the profession.

Transportation employees are often the first and last representatives of the school system that students see each day, and their role is critically important. I would also like to see continued investment in route efficiency, communication with families, and the use of technology to provide more timely information when delays occur.

Families should have confidence that they will receive accurate information and that the system is doing everything possible to get students to and from school safely. Ultimately, transportation is about access. Students cannot benefit from educational opportunities if they cannot reliably get to school. As a Board member, I would support efforts that strengthen transportation services, improve reliability, and ensure that every student has safe and dependable access to their education.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I would like voters to know that service has been a consistent theme throughout my life. I am a proud graduate of Prince George's County Public Schools, the parent of two PGCPS graduates, and a lifelong educator who has dedicated more than 25 years to serving the students and families of this county. I have served as a teacher, instructional leader, assistant principal, and principal, and I have spent my career working to create opportunities for children to succeed.

I am also the pastor of Fair Havens AME Church in Baltimore, where I have the privilege of serving a community committed to faith, service, and outreach. Those experiences have reinforced my belief that leadership is not about titles or recognition, instead it is about stewardship, responsibility, and a willingness to serve others.

People often ask why I decided to run for the Board of Education. The answer is simple: I believe our students deserve leaders who understand both policy and practice. I have spent my career implementing policies, managing resources, supporting educators, and working to improve student outcomes. I am now stepping forward to help ensure that the decisions made at the Board table translate into meaningful results in our schools.

This campaign is not about politics for me. It is about purpose. It is about ensuring that every child has access to a high-quality education, every educator has the support needed to be successful, and every family has confidence that the school system is focused on what matters most: student achievement. I am rooted in the work, committed to accountability, and dedicated to leading with purpose. If entrusted with this responsibility, I will work every day to honor that trust and be a strong voice for students, families, educators, and the entire District 9 community.