“From being born in a rural Chinese village to earning two doctorates and rising to a position designing U.S. federal health policy, the force that changed my life was ‘education.’ I will shape the future of Howard County education so that our children can fully unleash their potential in the best possible environment.” Dr. Lanlan Xu, a U.S. federal government policy expert, has thrown her hat into the ring for the Howard County Board of Education election to be held on November 3. Dr. Xu, a parent of two children attending Howard County public schools, served as the inaugural chair of the Howard County Asian Pacific Islander Commission (AAPI) and has worked closely with the local community, including the Asian community, for the past 12 years. One of Dr. Xu’s key pledges is to “expand the hiring of Asian teachers and administrative staff.” Dr. Shi pointed out that while Asians make up 23.7% of the total student population in Howard County, they account for only 5% of teachers and 2% of administrative staff. He emphasized that to resolve this severe imbalance, he would significantly increase opportunities for the recruitment, training, and promotion of Asian teachers.
Furthermore, as a first-generation immigrant who deeply understands the hardships faced by immigrant families, he proposed measures to strengthen communication with Korean and immigrant parents. Dr. Shi stated, “I will definitely implement the expansion of multilingual translation and interpretation services, including Korean; provide opportunities for parental involvement in schools; and establish clear reporting procedures and responsible follow-up measures regarding school violence and racial discrimination.” He added, “The history of Korean immigration and the contributions of the AAPI must be actively reflected in the regular history and social studies curriculum.” Dr. Shi appealed for the support of Korean voters, saying, “As a first-generation immigrant parent, I deeply empathize with the Korean community’s strong passion for education and dedication to the local community. Your valuable vote can make education in Howard County even stronger.”