Diane Alvarez

This page was last updated during the official's most recent election or appointment. Please contact us with any updates.

Diane Alvarez

Nonpartisan

Harford County Board of Education District F

Tenure

2022 - Present

Term ends

2026

Years in position

2

Predecessor

Sonja Karwacki

Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last elected

November 8, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

Widener University, 1987

Graduate

Liberty University, 2017

Other

Defense Acquisition University, 1995

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Diane Alvarez is a member of the Harford County Board of Education in Maryland, representing District F. She assumed office on December 5, 2022. Her current term ends on December 7, 2026.

Alvarez ran for election to the Harford County Board of Education to represent District F in Maryland. She won in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Alvarez completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Diane Alvarez earned a bachelor's degree from Widener University in 1987. She also graduated from Defense Acquisition University in 1995 and earned a graduate degree from Liberty University in 2017.

Elections

2022

See also: Harford County Public Schools, Maryland, elections (2022)

General election

General election for Harford County Board of Education District F

Diane Alvarez defeated Sharon Jacobs in the general election for Harford County Board of Education District F on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Diane Alvarez (Nonpartisan)	52.0	7,140
	Submit photo	Sharon Jacobs (Nonpartisan)	46.8	6,417
		Other/Write-in votes	1.2	161

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 13,718
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Harford County Board of Education District F

Sharon Jacobs and Diane Alvarez defeated Erin Carrig in the primary for Harford County Board of Education District F on July 19, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Sharon Jacobs (Nonpartisan)	42.0	2,825
✔		Diane Alvarez (Nonpartisan)	35.2	2,370
	Submit photo	Erin Carrig (Nonpartisan)	22.8	1,532

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,727
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• DeAnn Webb (Nonpartisan)

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Diane Alvarez completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Alvarez's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Diane Alvarez is your 2022 candidate for the Harford County School Board in District F. Diane believes in transparency and is not afraid to answer any questions about her background. Diane is a person of integrity and much love. Diane gave 32 years of service to the Department of Defense as a civilian test and evaluation engineer at the Army Test and Evaluation Command. A career that started after graduating from Widener University with an Electronics Engineering degree in 1987. She moved from her hometown in NJ, to Aberdeen. Shortly after the move she conceived her first child, Jonathan. Diane bought her first home in 1991 in Havre de Grace and has lived there since. She met her husband Jorge at work and were instantly drawn to one another. They courted for three years before marrying in 1994. Shortly after marriage Jorge and Diane conceived their second son, Anthony. Diane is proud to be a mother, wife, female engineer, mentor, teacher, human service advocate, mental health advocate, lay counselor, parental advocate, and friend to the poor. Diane has supported the Soldier, church, and community in a variety of capacities from teaching in the Harford County Detention Center to cooking for the homeless at Harford Family House (formerly Welcome One Shelter). Diane is a friend to all and believes in everyone's potential for greatness -- unlocked at educational institutions. Diane wants education to matter again, like it did for her.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Diane wants public schools to provide an education that unlocks the potential of each student, "thier vocation".
• Diane wants school administration, governance bodies, and associations\unions to be accountable for expenditures of your tax dollars -- not at the expense of students, parents, and teachers.
• Diane wants policies and laws that protect parental rights, ensure students safety, and provides a classroom focused on an education needed to become a responsible citizen.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Diane believes in education policy that respects family privacy, culture, and transparency in education. Diane knows the diversity of our country and embraces others of a different cultural makeup from her own. She is married to Jorge an immigrant from Cuba whose family came to this country when he was 7 yrs old. She enjoys speaking to others that have different cultural backgrounds and excelled in her diversity classes at Liberty University where she earned her Masters degree. Diane is passionate about policies that support family rights, promote the dignity of each human creation, respect the wisdom of our elders, and protect our children. As a board member Diane will work tirelessly to align policy in support of these standards.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

There is not one person, but several and for different reasons.

First and foremost my grandmother McCann for her virtue and love. My grandmother knew how to teach me what was important without saying much, but giving all she had. She knew that if you let everything flow through your heart, goodness would follow. She taught me to know where true treasure exists and desired her example of integrity to be emulated.

Second, my husband for his calm demeanor and resolve to trust divine timing. During graduate school, we had to do a thesis on our theology of suffering. My suffering is the finite clock and the thesis helped me to let go of time. My husband is able to do that, he never seems concerned about cramming it all into a timeline. Doing the research and constructing a thesis provided knowledge, breaking formed habits takes work. My life now is more balanced and not cluttered with expiring to dos, I now take credit for what I get done and not fret over what is remaining.

Third, the Saints because they had the humility to use their gifts without taking credit for them.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

There is not one book, essay, film that defines my philosophy, but many. Some books that have influenced my views on teaching include "Raising the Curtain on Raising Children" and "7 Habits of Successful Families". While these are not political books they pertain to my desire to serve on the school board.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity is the shining virtue in an elected official.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibilities are communication with the constituents; review, adapt, propose, and enforce policy; and approve actions that result in expenditures.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first historical event that happened in my lifetime that I remember was the Apollo 11 flights to the moon. Although the first flight was in 1969, it was probably one of the subsequent flights that I actually watched live in school. I remember the excitement of the teacher and the TV being wheeled in so that the class could watch it real time. This advancement marked the beginning of new capability. Many of my classmates wanted to become astronauts, it was all the craze. It was in 1972 when I was in second grade; I was 7 yrs old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was TV guide delivery person and news paper delivery...but my first professional job is provided below.

1987-2018. Electronics Engineer, Aberdeen Test and Evaluation Command, APG, MD

Senior Evaluator for Army Evaluation Center, Command, Control, Communications, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) Directorate, Networks Division

Led diverse team of government and contract engineers and scientists
Developed data collection reduction and analysis plans for major military acquisitions
Resourced distributed analysis center to support analytical team of 20 analysts
Partnered with external organizations to augment skill gaps when necessary

Strategic Analyst, Program Executive Office Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)

Conducted sensing interviews of ten directors at three locations
Assessed baseline strategic policy to identify gaps and challenges
Developed plan to transition present strategic policy to Balanced Scorecard Method (BSC)
Published document to guide leadership to implement transition of new strategic model

Strategic Initiative Representative for Army Evaluation Center Strategic Group

Selected representative to steer strategic efforts to support workforce
Led focus group of twenty volunteers from diverse groups within the organization
Developed conceptualization of intranet design that was approved by senior executive
Hosted senior leader technical exchange with external organization to improve communications and leverage capabilities
Facilitated training of twenty five new members to the organization

Cohort Leadership Member for Army Evaluation Center

Led project to improve coaching in organization resulting in implementation of coaching program throughout the acquisition workforce (5,000+ members)
Formed a policy for management of data to support analysis of big data

Developed algorithm to measure strategic impact using preprogrammed analytics

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

Communicate with the constituents so that policies can be aligned appropriately and expenditures can be justified. As a board member we would listen to the constituents, react with appropriate reviews to policy, curriculum, and reports, respond with actions to address concerns, and report in public or private forum as appropriate.

Who are your constituents?

Residents of Maryland in Harford County Councilmanic District F.

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

First, by determining what their needs are using a method similar to what was done for PEO ACWA. That is, using a balanced score card method to find the needs of the organization. This method includes understanding the stakeholders role as it is in policy, their role as they perceive it, their perception of that role in how they define it. The method produces a report that can be used to fill gaps, remove waste, and address areas for improvement.

How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?

Through active listening and responsive communication. A balanced scorecard method would be used to form relationships of understanding with stakeholders and the governance bodies. Active participation in public and private meetings, publish of public approved actions in a quarterly newsletter. The organizations and groups that are involved with setting school policy and expenditures will be among those consulted. The parents, students, teachers, school staff, and community are all considered stakeholders of concern.

Do you believe it is important to intentionally recruit with the aim of diversifying the district’s faculty, staff, and administration? If so, what would be your policy to achieve this?

Yes, recruitment should intentionally be aimed at diversity, that is broadly focused without quota limits. However, the diverse recruitment should not exclude any qualified candidate and not include unqualified candidate.

What issues get in the way of quality education? How would you address these obstacles?

For a teacher, discipline and other distractions are obstacles in the classroom that prevent quality education. Develop a focus model that would remove obstacles and determine best adjustment needed. Through the use of private counseling sessions (were needed), classroom adjustments (if appropriate and essential), and discipline as appropriate.

What constitutes good teaching? How will you measure this? How will you support advanced teaching approaches?

Good teaching is a multivariable response, in which educators must be willing to work with unknowns. Outcomes are difficult to quantify given the diversity of student population. Any calculation must look to the family (including the students), workforce, and community progression as new graduates emerge from the school system. Models seem to focus on test scores, student grades, or poorly constructed surveys that have made a poor assessment of true conditions.

Measurement at this time is likely not necessary as the data for a beginning model are already available. The three factors above should be a starting point one of two of which are well documented in employment data. Collection of family data should be done through adults eyes with a generational focus where parents and elders alike assess the anticipated future of the community.

Advance teaching approaches will be assessed when they are presented, based on the criteria of ROI.

In what areas would you like to expand curriculum? For example, do you see a need for advanced technical training or apprenticeships? What sort of innovative programming would you advance if given the opportunity?

The areas in need of expansion should be driven by the family and student body interest. That is a model concept similar to Montessori approach early and with great emphasis.

Any advancements must consider the students ability to advance, which should be assessed at earlier ages where an allowance to float to different courses of interests in an attempt to unlock a vocation. For students that are able to progress in a given vocation, create a model that has loose boundaries allowing the student to be challenged beyond his present state.

Innovations must teach technology without using technology. In order to know how something works, you must go to the lowest denominator. As an engineer we had paper and pencil, slide rules, and bread boards. We learned how the computer worked by understanding how the signal flowed through the "wire". Jumping ahead while skipping the steps will only provide a crumbling foundation.

What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?

Make use of volunteers where possible, team with the local community to bring in specialists to share skills and give back to the younger generation. Use a multigenerational approach to learning to augment the stress of teachers workload.

What principles drive your policies for safety in schools?

Developing enforceable, trainable, and effective protocols of security that include monitoring by professionals and volunteers (if possible) with strict enforcement for violations. Protocol development would start with a complete risk assessment to unlock security risks that can be mitigated with procedures, techniques, technologies, or personal.

How might you support the mental health needs of students/faculty/staff?

Mental health includes a balanced life to include oscillation between the energy modalities - that is mental, physical, and nutritional. Class schedules should consider the modalities while also teaching perseverance and time management.

What role do you imagine technology playing in (and outside) the classroom in the future? How would you prepare the district for this?

Technology has been playing a major role in society for years and that will continue. Technological advances were so rapid in the dot com and millennial generation that society could not keep up. With cyber concerns and predatorily behavior, smart phones should not be allowed in the classroom. That said, proper use of smart phone should be taught to children and offered to parents as part of the orientation class or meeting as schools open each year. With adhoc classes offered as technology dictates.

Misuse of smart phones either in or outside the classroom that becomes a discipline issue, should be addressed with parents and school administrators as appropriate.

Preparation would likely be a review and update to policy.

What are your views on how to address schooling during pandemic times?

One never knows how a disease will affect each individual, epidemiologist have been trying for years to find a one size fits all solution. That said, students and teachers with compromised immune systems should be provided the tools of accommodation.

What will you do to build a relationship with parents in the district? What plans do you have to be inclusive of parental involvement?

To build a relationship with parents I will participate at school events where parents are present, attend school board meetings, publish a newsletter.

My plan for inclusive parental involvement is not to exclude anyone that expresses an interest.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2022 Elections

What's on the ballot? U.S. Congress U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. Congress State executives State legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards

Newsletters

The Heart of the Primaries The Daily Brew The Weekly Brew The Ballot Bulletin Checks and Balances Economy and Society Hall Pass Number of the Day Robe & Gavel Union Station

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Candidate

Harford County Board of Education District F

Website

Facebook

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Sonja Karwacki	Harford County Board of Education District F 2022-Present	Succeeded by -