Sharif Hidayat
City/town of residence: Laytonsville
Date of birth: June 7, 1973
Occupation: pilot
Political experience: Can all be found on Maryland case search
Website: votesharif.com
Email: sharif4boe@gmail.com
Social media links (Facebook, Instagram, X, etc.): Facebook
Why are you running for this office?
I am a retired Montgomery County police officer with two kids that are enrolled in MCPS. Our schools are not safe environments for learning anymore. We have students bringing guns to schools, selling drugs and not paying attention to their teachers because they are on their cell phones. Students can’t reach their highest academic potential if they are not learning in a safe environment. Our students, teachers and staff deserve a safer environment to learn and work in respectively.
What experience (work, political or other) has prepared you to hold this office?
I am the only candidate that brings a law enforcement background to the Board of Education. My work experience as a Community Services Officer has prepared me to work with a diverse group of stakeholders to address systemic issues plaguing MCPS. My institutional knowledge and professional relationships with MCPS teachers, staff and former SROs spanning a career of over 20 years will contribute to achieving sustainable solutions at MCPS.
What is the most important issue in this race? How do you plan to address it?
See answer No. 1. I will advocate for reinstatement of the School Resource Officer program. The program was a tremendous success. Unfortunately, the county executive and County Council are playing politics with the safety of our students, teachers and support staff by not having the SRO program reinstated. Attached are two links that highlight what the program is all about.
Transparency and accountability have been particularly challenging for the school system as shown by the recent sexual harassment scandal involving a former MCPS principal. How do you plan to help the school board rebuild trust with the school community?
Anyone who works for MCPS or has been a victim of MCPS knows that MCPS is more concerned about PR damage control instead of solving a problem. Trust can only be earned if those in political power make the choice to be candid with the public about what is really going on within MCPS. If the voters think that the Beidleman case was an isolated incident, they are kidding themselves. I will be laser focused on accountability from MCPS’s Department of Compliance and Investigations. Voters can expect monthly reports from my office detailing accountability efforts.
Do you have a child in the school system? What school do/did they attend and what grade?
I am a proud Laytonsville Elementary School Bulldog parent. My kids, Hudson and Luna, are in the first and fourth grades respectively. Go Bulldogs.
Are you an MCPS alumnus? Which school(s) did you attend? What year?
I attended Brookhaven Elementary School and Earle B. Wood Middle School. I attended junior high school abroad due to my father’s career. I am a Georgetown Prep High School graduate.