Meet Prince George's Education Board Candidate Caroline Decaire-Goldin: 2026 Election Spotlight

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Caroline Decaire-Goldin will be on the ballot Election Day as a candidate for Prince George's County Board of Education, District 2.

Patch posed questions to each candidate running for office.

Below you will find this candidate's responses, verbatim:

Name: Dr. Caroline Decaire-Goldin
Age on Election Day: 37
Hometown: Elyria, OH
Email address: friendsofcdg@gmail.com
Campaign website: www.carolineforpgcps.com

Do you have any previous political experience? If so, please state and explain how that experience will influence your time in office if elected. I have not previously run for office, but I have served in the offices of elected Democratic officials such as former Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge, former Governor Martin O'Malley, and former Congressman Dennis Kucinich. My experiences in all of these offices combined have fortified my passion for public service and reaffirmed my commitment to protecting civil rights and centering our most vulnerable communities.

What do you believe is the single-most important issue facing voters in the district you’re looking to represent? How do you intend to address those issues? The most important issue facing the board is restoring family trust, which has been broken by operational breakdowns and a lack of transparency. Repairing it is the responsibility of the board and district leadership, through concrete, consistent changes over time. PGCPS families aren’t asking for radical things: buses that show up on time and don’t make 5-year-olds ride for two hours, HVAC systems that work, and buildings that don’t catch fire.

In District 2, families have also cited a lack of board member accessibility and responsiveness as a longstanding concern. I have high expectations for family and community engagement, using existing structures like parent teacher organizations (we need these at every school!), WhatsApp groups, and other channels to meet families where they are.

Last year’s budget process caught many families off guard when specialty programs were proposed for cuts. More difficult decisions are coming, and they cannot be made in isolation or through performative engagement. Community input must actually shape decisions, not just react to them after the fact.

Our transportation crisis shows the same need: by publicly posting routes and adopting best practices from neighboring districts, we can bring families into the process and make better decisions together. I will always fight for PGCPS to have the resources it needs, and I will hold our school system accountable for the transparency and functionality our students deserve

How do you differ from other candidates running against you?I’m proud to be the only candidate who has been a teacher and instructional leader right here in Prince George’s County Public Schools. I’ve spent my entire career in education, and I’m not coming into this race with theories; I’m bringing real experience from nearly every level of our education system. When we talk about improving literacy, I’ve taught hundreds of kids how to read, and in my current work I help implement science-of-reading policies at the state level. I bring a unique vantage point not only as a mom, but also as an experienced educator.

How would your work experience benefit the goals/objectives you’ve outlined in your campaign and/or the office you’re seeking? In addition to knowing firsthand what it’s like to work in PGCPS schools, my depth of education program and policy experience, paired with steadfast advocacy, makes me the ideal candidate for the board. I have worked across many levels of education, from coaching teachers on using classroom data to guide instruction, to reviewing teacher preparation programs to ensure new teachers entering local schools can actually teach kids to read.

Designing and implementing school improvement strategies, literacy initiatives, AI-usage frameworks, and grow-your-own teacher apprenticeship programs are not theoretical concepts to me. They are my day-to-day work. That makes me a well-versed partner for families who want to understand federal, state, and local education policies and programs so we can effectively advocate for their children.

Beyond content knowledge, I bring a relentless commitment to keeping equity front and center and being loud about what students deserve. An effective board member does more than approve budgets and monitor key metrics. They advocate to other state and local entities to ensure the district has the resources to serve students, teachers, and families well. I have already advocated before the County Council, the Board of Education, and others, often gathering testimony from other families, because my voice should primarily amplify our community’s hopes and concerns.

I’ve spent my career driving positive education outcomes for kids, and I’m here to do that work for every student in District 2.