Meet Broadneck’s New Citizen Advisory Committee Members

As two of the 11 new members on the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC), Jessica Snell-Johns and Brandon Gulley will have plenty of opportunities to advise the board of education on issues affecting Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Both will represent the Broadneck cluster on the 30-member panel, which features two members from each high school cluster – one representing elementary schools and one representing secondary schools – serving two-year terms.

While orientation for new CAC members does not start until September, the Broadneck parents shared their backgrounds and explained why they are a good fit for the role.

Snell-Johns lives in Winchester on the Severn, an Arnold community located just outside Annapolis. Two of her three children attend Arnold Elementary.

With a doctorate in clinical and community psychology, Snell-Johns feels that her 15 years of experience working with children, teens, couples and families has prepared her for the CAC position.

“I’ve always been passionate about public school education … and making sure kids’ mental needs are met so there aren’t barriers to their learning,” she said, adding that she hopes to “bring knowledge of how to support the whole child and how physical, social and emotional needs must be addressed in order for all children to be successful academically.”

As a founder and former executive director of the nonprofit Seeds 4 Success, Snell-Johns assisted children and families living in Annapolis public housing. Although she called her practice “stimulating” and “rewarding,” Snell-Johns is excited about the policy and advocacy work that CAC will allow.

“When I ended my time as executive director to attend to my own family, I promised myself I would remain engaged in education discussion beyond just the school my children attend,” she said. “I feel strongly about equality and the potential public education has to truly impact the whole child as well as their family. I am excited about the things I see happening in our county, and would like to contribute.”

Arnold resident Brandon Gulley is also excited to contribute. “One of the great things about our country is the ability for individuals to have a voice in how decisions are made,” he said. “I look forward to being a voice in that process.”

A financial adviser, Gulley has a baby and four stepchildren that comprise each level of schooling, and he also works with a nonprofit called The College Funding Coach, which educates parents on the college funding process.

Gulley said he is open to hearing feedback from other parents, but he has a few issues that he wants to address. “Personally, I am concerned about some of the basic life skills that don't seem to be taught,” he said. “Maybe schools feel that responsibility falls on the parents, but I think there should be some opportunities through the schools as well. I also think classrooms should be smaller so that students can get more personalized attention if they need it.”

Although the CAC’s full agenda will not be set until September, Melonie Tiechert, the committee’s president, said there are a few agenda items to pursue and continue: ensuring the great opportunities offered by AACPS are equally accessible and available to all students, disseminating the rollout of a new gifted and talented program for the AACPS middle schools, and representing the AACPS stakeholders.

“We encourage anyone interested in promoting excellence in our schools to get involved with their school PTA/PTO organizations and to feel free to reach out to their CAC representative anytime for information, to ask questions, or to suggest issues for us to pursue,” Tiechert said.

Beth Nolan, who joined the CAC last year as a Severna Park representative, said her best advice for new members is to keep an open mind and listen. Because the county covers a diverse area, she had to “take time to learn what is driving the districts, so we can better inform our clusters and ensure they have the info that they need.”