Parent says long-term substitute at Dow Elementary was unqualified; asks board for policy review

Nicole Dowb told the Calvert County Board of Education she is “frustrated and disappointed” by what she described as a lack of action about a long-term substitute placement at Dow Elementary. Dowb said she first raised the issue on Dec. 27 and that repeated attempts to get a response — including emails, meetings with the principal and contact with county commissioners — had produced no meaningful resolution.

She told the board she was concerned an unqualified 19-year-old with “negligible experience” had been placed in a first-grade classroom for an extended period. “These young students deserve a qualified educator,” Dowb said, and she asked the board and superintendent to provide “a clear plan to place a qualified and experienced educator in this classroom” and to review the district’s policies regarding long-term substitute hiring.

Dowb also urged more communication and transparency about the decision. “The lack of communication and transparency surrounding this decision is deeply concerning and has eroded the trust parents place in the school system to act in the best interests of their children,” she said. She asked the board to act immediately to resolve the situation and to ensure future long-term substitute placements meet appropriate standards.

The board did not announce any immediate action or formal vote in response to Dowb’s public comment during the meeting. The Superintendent’s budget presentation and board discussion that followed focused on the FY26 operating budget and district priorities; Dowb’s comment was recorded during the public comment portion of the agenda.