http://www.fredericknewspostonline.com/sections/display.htm?StoryID=31580

Fishman to seek school board seat

Publish Date: 12/23/03


By Dave Loos 
News-Post Staff 

ROCKVILLE -- Longtime PTA leader and Silver Spring resident Sheldon Fishman
announced Monday that he will challenge incumbent Kermit Burnett for the
District 4 Montgomery County Board of Education seat.

Mr. Fishman, who has previously served as president of the Oakland Terrace
Elementary and Einstein High school PTAs, said Monday that he is running on the
theme that "knowledge is power.

"I've worked with the PTAs here for over 20 years on both the local and county
levels," he said. "I'm anxious to give that knowledge back."

Mr. Fishman, whose four children graduated from the school system at Einstein
and Montgomery Blair high schools, said he still has the desire to help the
system.

"The key," he said, "is not just high expectations but also a clear vision
backed by proven, tested methods." In 2001, Mr. Fishman and his wife Lee were
recognized as the 2001 Maryland PTA Family of the Year.

His opponent, Mr. Burnett, was appointed to a the vacant District 4 seat in
1998 and ran unopposed in 2000 for a four-year term. Monday was the deadline
for candidates to file for the election. If more than two candidates run, a
primary will be held March 2 before the Nov. 2 general election. 

"Sheldon and I go back a ways," said Joseph Hawkins, a former PTA leader and
now treasurer of Mr. Fishman's campaign. "I've had a number of positive
encounters with him through the PTA, and have always been impressed with his
great ideas and ability to think outside the box."

Mr. Fishman, who has also served as the Einstein cluster coordinator and as the
Montgomery County Council of PTAs delegate from Montgomery Blair High School,
said he believes the board should challenge the superintendent more than it
does now.

"They're not providing enough independent analysis," he said. "I think we need
to make sure the new curriculums are complete before they hit the classrooms."

Mr. Fishman's campaign is being chaired by Julie Greenberg, a math teacher at
Montgomery Blair High School and president of the Jaime Escalante Charter
School.