Robert Silkworth
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Robert Silkworth is a member of the Anne Arundel County Board of Education in Maryland, representing District 2. He assumed office on December 7, 2020. His current term ends on December 4, 2028.
Silkworth ran for re-election to the Anne Arundel County Board of Education to represent District 2 in Maryland. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Silkworth completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Robert Silkworth was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He served in the United States Army from 1967 to 1972. Silkworth earned a high school diploma from Park Center Senior High School and a bachelor's degree from Towson University in 1972. His career experience includes working as a teacher.[1][2]
Elections
2024
See also: Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Maryland, elections (2024)
General election
General election for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, District 2
Incumbent Robert Silkworth defeated John Grasso in the general election for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, District 2 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Robert Silkworth (Nonpartisan)  | 93.3 | 26,077 |
| John Grasso (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 4.5 | 1,246 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.3 | 630 | ||
| Total votes: 27,953 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled. Incumbent Robert Silkworth advanced from the primary for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, District 2.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Silkworth in this election.
2020
See also: Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Maryland, elections (2020)
General election
General election for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, District 2
Robert Silkworth defeated Raleigh Turnage Jr. in the general election for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, District 2 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Robert Silkworth (Nonpartisan) | 55.9 | 17,190 |
| Raleigh Turnage Jr. (Nonpartisan) | 43.3 | 13,322 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 229 | ||
| Total votes: 30,741 | |||
| = 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
The primary election was canceled. Robert Silkworth and Raleigh Turnage Jr. advanced from the primary for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, District 2.
Endorsements
To view Silkworth's endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Robert Silkworth completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Silkworth's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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My name is Robert Silkworth and I am a 49 year veteran teacher in Anne Arundel County Schools. I am retired and have been a member of the school board in AACPS since 2020 when I was elected. I am currently President of the Anne Arundel County Board of Education.
- I taught for 49 years for the KIDS. I ran for the school board in AACPS for the KIDS. My focus has and always will be what is in the best interest of our students in Anne Arundel County. My politics are the politics of KIDS! My focus as a member of the Board of Education is on improving student outcomes.
- Maryland law is the Blueprint. We are well positioned in AACPS to implement the Maryland Blueprint. It is complex but it mandates that resources follow students. We have created a career ladder for our teachers and we are well positioned to meet all of the mandates of the Blueprint.
- Safety of all students and staff is a number one priority. All students have dreams and aspirations. Students who attend school with a positive attitude will achieve. We do know that the mental health of our students and staff is a major concern and for us, it is a major focus.
I am passionate about any policy which will allow us to provide the best possible education for all of our students regardless of their zip code.
I have always looked up to my father who worked three jobs to support me and my 5 brothers and sisters. He only went to the 6th grade but he was the smartest family man I have ever known.
The Little Prince has always impacted my thinking. What is essential is invisible to the eyes. One can only see clearly with the heart. Building relationships with others makes us responsible for them, for life!
An elected official must be honorable and trustworthy and dedicated to the job at hand.
I care! I am a good listener! I am dedicated!
Our core responsibility is to ensure that ALL students in AACPS can BELONG, GROW, AND SUCCEED!
I hope that everyone knows that I focused my entire career on helping young people realize their dreams!
I remember the debate between Nixon and Kennedy which I watched on the television. I was about 12 years old.
My first job was a clerk in a small memorial company in Brooklyn Park. It was part time and allowed me to earn money while in high school. I own the company today!
The Little Prince and Les Miserables.
Each book has impacted my career dramatically.
Each book has impacted my career dramatically.
Climb every Mountain
I have not had struggles in my lifetime. I have had the privilege of teaching and mentoring some fantastic young people.
Our main focus is on improving student outcomes. Every student has the right to realize their dream in a safe educational environment.
Students, Parents, Educators, Community Members, ALL other stakeholders
I have done that for over 50 years by teaching and by serving on the AACPS Board of Education. It has been an honor and a privilege and my job is not yet done!
Building relationships has been my main focus. Everything depends on the building of positive relationships with ALL stakeholders. I have done so for my entire career and I will continue to do so.
Good teaching occurs when highly trained and qualified teachers prepare lesson plans to engage and help students become critical thinkers. In todays world students learn by doing! A good teacher is a facilitator of learning! Success is always measured by student outcomes. Support for advanced teaching approaches must involve financial support as appropriate with appropriate professional development.
We must expand all areas of our curriculum in order to help our students become College or Career Ready! This is a mandate of the Blueprint.
We must continue to advocate for the needs of our students and not for a sum of money that a member of the funding source suggest is available. My job is not to be the funding source. My job is to advocate for student NEEDS!
Everyone has the right to expect that they can go to school to learn in a safe environment free from violence and/or bullying. No one has the right to take this away from anyone!
This is critical in today's world. We must be proactive by recognizing that this is a big concern. Resources must be provided. ALL students need mentors. ALL staff should be mentors.
I am sorry to say that I do not have one but I do value the positive impact laughter has on all of us!
We have a list of policies under review at the recommendation of staff members, the superintendent as well as members of the Board of Education. I support the recommendations of the Policy Committee. I am always open to listen to any suggestions to either modify existing policy or create new policy.
TAAAC, NAACP as well as many local politicians on both sides of the aisle. Those who know me know that I consistently advocate for our students and families without adding any politics other that the politics of KIDS.
SAFE! with relationships built on caring, respect, trust and understanding!
My focus during the pandemic was on the safety of EVERYONE. We relied on medical advisors, not political advisors. In the future, I will continue to be a good listener and I will continue to rely on experts to guide my decisions.
Listen, Focus, Include, Support, Respect
The best way to recruit is to provide ALL staff a work environment which is safe and welcoming! Collaboration is a key strategy! Advocating for ALL staff is a must. We must be competitive with other districts. We must care about our faculty and staff and we must provide more than adequate compensation to EVERYONE!
Transparency is a must.
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.
2020
Robert Silkworth completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Silkworth's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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My name is Robert A. Silkworth, a 48 year veteran teacher in the Anne Arundel County School system. I am also a product of Anne Arundel County Schools. I have dedicated my teaching career to the "kids" of the North County cluster. I have had the honor to mentor and teach so many and as we transition from an appointed school board to an elected school board, I believe that my voice as an experienced educator and collaborator is needed more than ever. The pandemic has changed the face and the future of education. I am running for the "kids." ALL of our kids deserve safe schools so that they can work hard to achieve their dreams no matter where they live.
- All students and parents have the right to expect a safe learning environment no matter where they live.
- All students and parents have the right to expect equal opportunities in order to seek out and work hard to achieve goals and dreams.
- All students and parents have the right to be involved in their educational experience both at the cluster level and the county level. Collaboration between all stakeholders is essential in order to guarantee success.
The education of our "kids" has always been my passion. Bricks and mortar do not make schools. Schools are made by the stakeholders in them. Our kids deserve the very best that we can give them. This means that we have an obligation to provide the best teachers and we need to work hard to make sure that the great teachers we have stay with us in Anne Arundel County. Equity is not just about students. It is about teachers as well. Anne Arundel County has been good to me and my family. However, some teachers have experienced losses of steps and salary. Our county executive has committed to right this wrong and I stand with him.
Money is not always an issue. Many improvements in education can be made by simply changing what we do and how we do it. I support the Maryland Blueprint for education to some extent. There has been a lot of discussion about discipline and legislation to guarantee that teachers and students will be able to teach and learn in classes free from discipline issues. Many of our students will tell you that they are in classes controlled by unruly students. Teachers and administrators are frustrated by a system which is intent on restoring discipline in these classes but which lacks alternatives and strategies to do so. The answer does not lie in suspending students. The answer lies in building relationships with students, parents and stakeholders to help ALL students want to come to school to learn and to achieve their dreams.
Money is not always an issue. Many improvements in education can be made by simply changing what we do and how we do it. I support the Maryland Blueprint for education to some extent. There has been a lot of discussion about discipline and legislation to guarantee that teachers and students will be able to teach and learn in classes free from discipline issues. Many of our students will tell you that they are in classes controlled by unruly students. Teachers and administrators are frustrated by a system which is intent on restoring discipline in these classes but which lacks alternatives and strategies to do so. The answer does not lie in suspending students. The answer lies in building relationships with students, parents and stakeholders to help ALL students want to come to school to learn and to achieve their dreams.
I look up to Martin Luther King because I do remember when he was alive, what he was all about. He preached non-violence and collaboration in a world that was full of violence. I also remember when he was assassinated. It was a shock and a great loss to this country. If I had to make a choice, I would say that he was one of the greatest Americans to have lived. He had dreams for all of us and we are still working hard today to make sure that these dreams come true for our "kids".
The book which comes to mind is Le Petit Prince by Antoine de St. Exupery. In this wonderful book, we find messages of hope which center around key themes. We learn that it is only with the heart that one sees clearly because what is essential is invisible to the eyes but clearly visible to the heart. We learn also that it is essential to create connections with friends, family and others if we are to get along with one another.
Elected officials have been honored by the citizens. They have been selected to serve the people and as a member of the Board of Education, it will be my responsibility to serve the stakeholders of Anne Arundel County. I will do so with honor and integrity. I will dedicate my work to the "kids" of Anne Arundel County.
Caring, understanding and a willingness to work together and to collaborate in order to achieve a goal, this is what I have done for so many years as a coach, a mentor and a teacher. I can do the same as a member of the Board of Education.
A member of the Board of Education is elected by the people of the county to collaborate with other Board of Education members as well as all stakeholders in the county to provide the best educational experience for ALL students in the county. Safety and equity are number one concerns. The building of relationships with all stakeholders and a willingness to collaborate are essential to the success of our students in our schools and communities.
The greatest legacy I could leave is that every single student in this county was able to realize his or her dream because I helped provide a safe and equitable educational experience.
I was in the ninth grade in my physical science class when the principal came over the public address system to tell us that President John Kennedy had been assassinated in Dallas, Texas. I recall that he was crying. School was cancelled and everyone was very upset. During the next few days we witnessed on television the killing of Lee Harvey Oswald by Jack Ruby and of course the funeral of the president with his little son saluting him as the funeral procession walked b y. This was a piece of history.
My first teaching job was at Southern Junior High School in Lothian, Maryland. There were only two openings in my field at the time and I was honored to be offered this French and English teaching position. Even though I lived in Baltimore County at the time, I drove each and every day to Southern Junior High School and it was a great experience for me, as a first year teacher. I taught at Southern Junior High School for two hears. I was called to interview at Brooklyn Park High School, my high school alma mater. I did so and I was selected to become the department chairperson of the the Foreign Language Department at Brooklyn Park High School in 1974-75 and I did return to my alma mater where I continue to teach until it was closed in 1989 because of the merger of Andover and Brooklyn Park High Schools. I was selected to be the WCL department chairperson at North County High School in 1990 by Bill Wentworth, the first principal of North County High School. I am still teaching there today. I am the only remaining teacher of the original staff who stayed at North County High School.
Les Miserables without a doubt. Injustice has existed for centuries. Jean Valjean, the main character, profits from his misfortune and learns that if we knock on the right doors, we will find someone who cares and loves us. Even though he experienced a great deal of hardship and pain in his life, he was able to overcome the negative to become an honest and a caring man. He made a difference in the lives of so many.
I would probably like to be the fox in the story by St. Exupery about the Little Prince. Why? The fox was wise and knew the importance of building relationships based on trust and understanding. He knew that one only sees clearly with the heart because what is really essential is invisible to the eyes.
The Climb by Miley C. This is an inspirational song which teaches us all that what matters is the perseverance we have to climb the mountain and to overcome adversity. Giving up is not an option!
I think all teachers struggle with the anxiety we have when we know that our students are struggling and in need of help. The teachers I know bend over backwards to find a way and to sacrifice to help our students succeed in a world which provides so many challenges. The struggle continues!
The members of the Board of Education are responsible for the education of the students in Anne Arundel County. We have over 82,000 students with a budget over 1.4 billion dollars. It is the job of the member of the Board of Education to make sure that ALL students have the same opportunity to the best education possible regardless of where they live or what their personal finances might be.
It is also the responsibility of each member of the Board of Education to guarantee a safe school learning experience for ALL students.
It is also the responsibility of each member of the Board of Education to guarantee a safe school learning experience for ALL students.
The students are my #1 constituents. They are the reason I am running to become a member of the Board of Education. Their parents are also my constituents as well as all of the taxpayers in Anne Arundel County. There are many constituents or stakeholders. ALL stakeholders are important and should be involved and represented in all issues of importance.
In order to support the diverse needs of the stakeholders in my district, I will focus on building relationships with everyone at all levels. Being a good listener is important. Being a caring listener is important. I will dedicate myself to all of my stakeholders. Each school in each cluster has its own needs and I am very familiar with all of the schools and clusters.
You build relationships by caring and understanding the needs, the hopes and dreams of course the goals of the stakeholders. When people know you care, they care. When people know that you value them and their opinions they begin to value themselves much more. I have built relationships for 48 years in the schools and the school communities. I will rely on those I already have and I will continue to build relationships with all stakeholders.
Once again, the power of the relationship is critical. Parents are vital to the goals our students have to be successful in whatever field they select. I will be inclusive. I will reach out to parents as needed and I will be a good listener. I will always value the opinions of each and every stakeholder. I will make decisions based upon what I believe to be in the best interests of ALL students in ALL communities.
I will rely on my experience, my knowledge of the educational needs of students and families and my heart to make the difficult decisions which lie ahead.
I will rely on my experience, my knowledge of the educational needs of students and families and my heart to make the difficult decisions which lie ahead.
Our student population today is more diverse than ever. We certainly should intentionally recruit qualified teachers, staff and administration to diversify. We need talented and highly qualified teachers and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds. Highly qualified teachers should want to come to our county to teach. Salary is not the only thing that attracts the workforce. Excellent working conditions are also critical and important to staff members. By working with our staff we can create a working environment in each school and cluster which will not only attract other highly qualified teachers, but it will also convince our current staff of highly qualified teachers to want to stay in Anne Arundel County. I stayed for 48 years.
Others will do the same if we work with them for the benefit of our "kids".
Others will do the same if we work with them for the benefit of our "kids".
I believe that the greatest obstacle to education is a negative attitude and/or indifference. My experience over 48 years proves to me than when students come to us with a positive attitude they achieve and they are highly successful. I believe the same is true of all stakeholders.
I have for several years referred to the need to focus on the attitude gap. Baruti Kafele, a retired teacher and principal for many years, is the source of this thought. He worked in some very challenged schools and he said that we need not focus on the achievement gap. We should focus on the attitude gap and according to him, when we fix the attitude problem, the achievement gap will close. I do agree with him. My experience tells me the same thing.
I have for several years referred to the need to focus on the attitude gap. Baruti Kafele, a retired teacher and principal for many years, is the source of this thought. He worked in some very challenged schools and he said that we need not focus on the achievement gap. We should focus on the attitude gap and according to him, when we fix the attitude problem, the achievement gap will close. I do agree with him. My experience tells me the same thing.
Each and every teacher has his own bag of tricks. I have my own and I pick and choose what works for me and my students. Over my 48 year career, there have been many NEW teaching approaches such as Thinking Maps and Open Space Schools. Too many people have been forced to use new strategies when in fact they should only use them if they are compatible with the teaching style, the content and the student population. Open space did cost millions and it finally went away. Thinking maps are great tools but no one should be forced to include one in every lesson.
Good teaching starts with creating a positive and healthy learning environment based on caring and trust and accountability. As a member of the Board of Education I will sponsor and support professional development which will help teachers and staff create exciting lessons to challenge our students each and every day.
Good teaching starts with creating a positive and healthy learning environment based on caring and trust and accountability. As a member of the Board of Education I will sponsor and support professional development which will help teachers and staff create exciting lessons to challenge our students each and every day.
Students should have great skills in language and math as well as science, social studies and the arts. Every student should be able to read and write effectively. However, we must do a better job of preparing our students for the real world. That real world does include how to apply for a mortgage as well as what factors are important when it comes time to apply for a car loan or a mortgage.
Many of our graduating students complain about not feeling ready or prepared to take on the responsibilities of the good citizen. There is a great You Tube video entitles What is school for? In this video a high school senior explains exactly what I mean. This is a great video that all should watch.We must also work hard to make sure that all students and their families have access to the net. We can do this by working with our community and business stakeholders.
We live in a technological society and technology places a big role. Our students need to be connected at an early age so that they will be prepared to function using the technology we have.
The pandemic has shown me that each and every student must have a device such as a Chromebook so that they can be connected. Anne Arundel County already has a large number and it will be possible to obtain enough for ALL. This must happen.
The value of a high school diploma will improve when we redefine what school is for and how we can better prepare our young people to be citizens in this technological world in which we live. We have to make some changes in curriculum. Students need to be prepared to live in this world. When they leave high school they should know about how to apply for a mortgage or a car loan and they should have a better understanding of financing and finances so that they can begin their lives as citizens in a positive way.
One of the best ways to find out what to do is to collaborate with the students to find out what they need and of course we should reach out to parents as well.Technology changes and so must we.
We do not make use of the great Vo-tech centers that we already have. Many students will tell you that they did not even know that they could learn to become a diesel mechanic in school. In Anne Arundel County, they can.
We also need to do a better job of writing curriculum. We have a great staff and I do believe that they do a phenomenal job. However, far too often curriculum writers are not experts at writing curriculum. They are simply teachers and staff willing to work over the summer or after hours to earn more money.We can and should network more with other jurisdictions across the country as well as other countries. Countries such as Denmark have dramatically improved the achievement of their schools in some very interesting ways. We can profit from the successes of others.
Once again, I refer to the POWER of the relationships created between the Board of Education, the Superintendent, the County Executive, the County Council, teachers, staff, parents, students and ALL other stakeholders. Our student population is growing and the needs of our students are increasing. We must advocate for a budget which will meet those needs. We must also make the best use of the funds that we do receive. There should be no waste. Taxpayer funds are precious dollars and we must do the very best we can with the dollars made available to us by the county and state.
Where we can save money, we must do so. We must also explore additional sources of income such as grants which will help us carry out our mission. Frivolous spending cannot occur. It is the responsibility of the members of the Board of Education to see that it does not happen.
Where we can save money, we must do so. We must also explore additional sources of income such as grants which will help us carry out our mission. Frivolous spending cannot occur. It is the responsibility of the members of the Board of Education to see that it does not happen.
The basic principle that all parents and students have the right to expect that they will be safe in their schools. Education cannot occur in an unsafe environment. This must be our #1 concern. We have done some great things and we have made a great deal of progress but we must continue to be vigilant and to always look for ways to improve safety for our "kids".
This has become one of the most important issues today and the pandemic has made it even more important and critical. I have had far too many experiences over the past few years with students and staff in crisis situations. I have been very fortunate to have been able to help many of my students and staff.
I have testified for several years about the need for more and more PPW workers, guidance counselors, social workers and others to help our students and staff deal with their mental issues. Coping has become very difficult for many and nothing else matters if help is not available.I will continue to advocate for the mental health needs of ALL of our students and staff.
The good news is that some additional funding has been included but the bad news is that this funding was recently cut as a result of then pandemic.
Technology plays a great role but this will be changing dramatically as a result of the pandemic. Education must include an E-Learning and an at home learning component. ALL of our students must be connected and we must find the where with all to do so. We already have large numbers of Chromebooks and we must acquire enough to make it happen for all students.
Schedule changes will have to be made at all levels. Students cannot all be in the buildings at one time and we must develop appropriate schedules to allow for a combination of face to face learning with E-learning at home.
Schedule changes will have to be made at all levels. Students cannot all be in the buildings at one time and we must develop appropriate schedules to allow for a combination of face to face learning with E-learning at home.
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
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Anne Arundel County Public Schools, District 2 |
Officeholder Anne Arundel County Public Schools, District 2 |
Personal |
Footnotes
