FREDERICK, Md. – Frederick County’s Director of Governmental Affairs, Joy Schaefer, has been selected as the Distinguished School Board Service Award Recipient, the Maryland Association of Boards of Education announced today. The prestigious award is presented to a board member who made outstanding contributions to public education as a school board member in Maryland.
Ms. Schaefer was elected to the Frederick County Board of Education in 2012 and served until 2019, when she stepped down to take on her role in the Office of the County Executive. She was elected as vice president and president of the Board of Education. Ms. Schaefer represented the Maryland Association of Boards of Education on the statewide Kirwan Commission, where she chaired a policy workgroup. She served as MABE Board of Directors President in 2016-17.
“This award was not something I was expecting,” Ms. Schaefer said today. “I’m not only honored to receive it, but honored to have worked with some of the most dedicated staff and Board members in Frederick County and across the state. Our deeply held commitment to students is what enabled me to do my best work."
“I want to congratulate Joy on this well-deserved recognition,” Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner said Thursday. “Her dedication to making sure every child received the opportunity for an outstanding education is unparalleled. Her contributions to the Kirwan Commission and the implementation of its recommendations will create transformational change in education and lift all students.”
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