The Harford County Board of Education unanimously voted Monday to appoint Lauren Paige as its president. Paige has been serving as interim president since the abrupt resignation of Aaron Poynton last month.

Wade Sewell, the elected member for District B, was selected as vice president. Sewell’s appointment passed by a 6-3 vote. Sewell previously served as vice president in 2022 when he was first elected to the board.

Elected members Melissa Hahn of District D, Diane Alvarez of District F and newly appointed member Liliana Norkaitis voted against Sewell’s appointment. They gave no reason for their negative votes.

Appointed member Mark Korn was absent.

Oct. 4, 2025- Harford County Board of Education Vice President Lauren Paige speaks at the dedication ceremony for Homestead-Wakefield Elementary School in Bel Air.
Lauren Paige, above, was selected to be the next president of the Harford school board. Wade Sewell was chosen as vice president. (John Gillis/Freelance)

Poynton resigned Jan. 7, shortly after the school board voted to suspend former Superintendent Sean Bulson with pay. Poynton said he chose to resign after accepting a new job that requires him to travel outside the county frequently.

Poynton’s seat is one of three appointed ones on the board, filled by County Executive Bob Cassilly. He was appointed in 2023 to serve a two-year term and reappointed last year for a four-year term. Poynton served as president since 2023.

Cassilly appointed Norkaitis, a recent University of Maryland, College Park graduate, to replace Poynton. Her appointment was approved last week in a vote by the Harford County Council.

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