Mary Washington
First African American Women Elected to St. Mary’s County Board of Education
(1953 –
Mary Washington, a resident of St. Mary’s County since the 1980s, has demonstrated her dedication to education and her community in her various educational and service-related positions throughout her life. Growing up in the south during segregation, Mary Washington understands the importance of treating people fairly and with respect and dignity, regardless of their station in life. She believes education is the doorway to success and that her purpose in life is to help others to achieve that success.
Elected to the newly formed St. Mary’s County Board of Education in 1996, Ms. Washington, a graduate of the University of Maryland, served as its first chairman and was instrumental in writing protocols and establishing guidelines for the Board. Ms. Washington continues as a Board member and has run unopposed five times since 1996. Her current term is set to end in 2024. Ms. Washington was the first African American woman to be elected in St. Mary’s County. She also holds the title of being the longest serving African American woman in the County. She has 42 years of direct education experience in several different positions as a substitute teacher, administrative assistant to the principal, school volunteer, and was the first chairman of the first elected Board of Education in 1996.
Ms. Washington is a strong supporter of mentoring programs in schools to support additional experiences for young people. She is a founding member of Leadership Southern Maryland, a program designed to expose participants to local industries, government, and non-profits to broaden their knowledge, inspiring them to be better connected to the communities in which they serve.
Additional Resources
Industry Spotlight, Mary Washington, LSM ‘09, Leadership Southern Maryland, June 15, 2021, Lauryn Paradis. Industry Spotlight – Mary Washington, LSM’09 (linkedin.com)
Personal Interview, October, 24, 2023, Alma Jordon
Washington aims for an eighth term on St. Mary’s school board | Local News | somdnews.com
