Meet Education Board Candidate Matthew Brown: 2026 Election Spotlight

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Jamie McGonnigal will be on the ballot Election Day as a candidate for Prince George's County Board of Education, District 3.

Patch posed questions to each candidate running for office.

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Below you will find McGonnigal's responses, verbatim:

Name
Jamie McGonnigal

Age on Election Day
51

Hometown
Hyattsville, Maryland

Political affiliation
Democrat. The Board of Education election is nonpartisan.

Email address
jamie@mcgfordistrict3.com

Campaign website/Facebook page
https://mcgfordistrict3.com
https://facebook.com/jamiemcgonnigal

Do you have any previous political experience? If so, please state and explain how that experience will influence your time in office if elected.

While I have not previously held elected office, I've spent years doing hands-on community leadership work, including serving as President of the Hyattsville Elementary School PTA. I've worked with families, educators, elected officials, and community organizations to address problems and bring resources into our schools.

I also have more than 20 years of experience in partnerships, fundraising, and coalition-building, including work supporting civic participation and LGBTQ+ equality. Those experiences have taught me to listen, bring people together, and follow through. I would bring that same approach to the Board of Education.

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?

I believe the biggest issue facing families right now is trust. Too many parents, teachers, and students feel unheard, disconnected from decision-making, or frustrated by a lack of communication and transparency. That's become even more apparent with our current transportation problems.

Rebuilding that trust starts with treating parents as partners and educators as professionals whose experience matters. I would prioritize accessible communication, meaningful opportunities for community input, and clear accountability for addressing concerns. Families should be able to understand how decisions are made and get an answer when something goes wrong. I've lived with these challenges firsthand for the past several years as a PGCPS parent leader.

How do you differ from other candidates running against you?

I'm the parent in this race. My child attends public school here, and the decisions made by the Board of Education directly impact my child and family every single day.

I know what it means when a bus doesn't arrive or drops a child off after 7pm, a teacher needs supplies, or a parent can't get an answer. I've spent years working alongside families and educators to solve those problems. That work began long before I decided to run for office. I'm seeking this position because I have a stake in our schools and a record of showing up for this community, not as a way to build my resumé.

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

My professional background has centered around leadership, partnerships, fundraising, communications, and coalition-building. I've worked across nonprofit organizations and civic technology, bringing people and resources together around shared goals.

That experience would help me ask informed questions about spending and technology, build productive relationships, and communicate clearly with the public. My community leadership has also taught me how to turn a concern into an actionable plan and keep working until people see results.

What is your opinion of the work being done by the current office holder, and how will you improve on it?

I've worked alongside our current Board member for much of the past four years, including on problems affecting our own school, and I appreciate that partnership. She has called on me many times to help address school issues, most recently just a few weeks ago when she asked me to be ready to advocate on an issue facing the Board.

That experience has also shown me where we need to improve. Too many families feel disconnected from decision-making and frustrated by inconsistent communication and a lack of responsiveness. I would bring my experience as a parent and community leader to strengthen communication, improve transparency, and ensure families and educators are treated as true partners. Parents should have a meaningful voice in decisions and be able to get an answer when something goes wrong.

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

Prince George's County has incredible students, educators, and families, but they deserve much better support from the system around them.

Our school transportation situation is inexcusable. Children need to get to school safely and on time, and families need to know when their children will be home. The lack of transparency and urgency from PGCPS shows an incredible disconnect from what families are experiencing. We need dependable service, honest communication, and clear accountability for fixing these failures.

Our school buildings also need attention and consistent maintenance. When a child walks into a building that is crumbling around them, they see what our community is willing to accept for them. We tell students their education matters and ask them to do their best. How can we expect them to believe that when we won't even take care of the buildings where they learn? Safe, healthy, well-maintained schools are a basic responsibility, and our budgets and decisions should reflect that.

We also need stronger support for educators, better staff retention, and academic support that recognizes students as more than test scores. That includes effective reading instruction, appropriate services for students with disabilities and multilingual learners, and thoughtful use of technology. Every student deserves a school where they feel welcome, challenged, and supported, and where our actions show them that they matter.

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

Community safety is important to every family. Schools have an important role in prevention through strong relationships, youth programs, and opportunities that help young people see a future for themselves.

We need stronger mental health supports for our children. We're reducing support at a time when we should be doubling down. Students need access to counselors, school psychologists, and trusted adults who have the time and resources to help before a problem becomes a crisis.

I support strong partnerships between schools, families, local government, and community organizations. Children need safe places to learn and spend time, and they deserve to grow up free from gun violence. I'm proud to have been named a Mental Health Now Candidate and to carry the Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction. I would bring those commitments to my work on the Board.

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

The Route 1 corridor and surrounding communities have tremendous potential for economic development that benefits residents while strengthening our local businesses. Supporting small businesses, local entrepreneurship, arts and cultural programming, and community-centered development can help that potential reach more families.

From the Board of Education, I would support stronger connections between schools, local employers, unions, and higher education. Students should have access to career exploration, apprenticeships, and technical education alongside pathways to college.

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

Transportation continues to be a major challenge, particularly for families who depend on school buses. Families deserve timely updates, dependable service, and systems that prioritize student safety.

I would push for accountability around school transportation, including reliable communication when buses are late or routes change. I also support collaboration with local governments to improve safe walking and biking routes to schools and access to public transportation.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I'm running because I care deeply about public education and the future of our community. I'm a proud gay dad, a public school parent, a former PTA president, and a longtime community organizer. I'm also a professional voice actor who loves helping children discover the fun in reading and bringing characters to life.

Public school teachers changed my life. They helped me find confidence, a sense of belonging, and a path toward a career I love. Every child deserves adults who see their potential and help them succeed. I've spent years showing up for children and families, and I would bring that same commitment to the Board of Education.