County Executive Bob Cassilly has nominated Terri Kocher to the Harford County Board of Education to fill the vacancy caused by last week’s abrupt resignation of Aaron Poynton, who had served as school board president.

The county executive appoints three of the nine members of the Board of Education, and when vacancies have occurred in the past, an application process has been opened before a nomination. This time, Cassilly did not ask for applications, he said, because Kocher had served on the school board before, leaving in June.

Council member Jacob Bennett criticized Cassilly’s move to nominate Kocher without an application process.

“I wish the county executive had opened the opportunity for the public to apply for the vacancy left by Dr. Poynton,” Bennett wrote in a social media post. “In this time of tension and scrutiny, I believe it would be the right thing to do to allow for those willing to step up and fill the seat to apply and be interviewed just as previous appointment process have worked.”

If approved by the County Council, Kocher will serve the remainder of Poynton’s four-year term, which is set to expire in 2029. A plan has not been announced regarding a vote on a new school board president.

Cassilly first appointed Kocher to the school board in 2023, to a two-year term, at the same time he appointed Poynton and school board vice president Lauren Paige. Kocher did not seek reappointment in June. Cassilly reappointed Poynton and Paige to four-year terms and replaced Kocher with current school board member Mark Korn.

During Kocher’s prior term, she pushed for transparency between the school system and the Board of Education regarding what is taught in the classroom and in school programs. Kocher criticized curriculum for classes such as Advanced Placement African American studies and sixth grade social sciences, citing what she said was inappropriate material. She presented similar arguments for removing the book “Flamer” from Harford public school libraries.

In filling Poynton’s vacancy, Cassilly said he did not open an application process because Kocher expressed a “willingness to return to service.” He forwarded Kocher’s nomination on Friday to the Harford County Council for approval.

“Terri Kocher is a proven leader with firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing our school system,” Cassilly said. “Her prior service on the Board of Education, her demonstrated ability to work with all members, her sound judgement and her willingness to step forward again demonstrates a strong commitment to our students, parents and educators.

“With the school system facing significant challenges, it is essential that the Board of Education operate at its full complement. Stability and experienced leadership are especially important during these uneasy times.”

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