Rita Montoya: Championing Students and Rebuilding Trust in Montgomery County Public Schools
Rita Montoya is a dedicated advocate and change-maker committed to serving the children and families of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). As a mother of elementary school children, Montoya understands the daily challenges faced by families and the critical importance of a safe, stable, and supportive school environment. With a diverse background as a policy advocate, former Public Defender, and community leader, Montoya brings a unique perspective and a wealth of experience to the Montgomery County Board of Education.
A Mom, Advocate, and Change Maker
Montoya's personal experiences as a parent within the MCPS system fuel her passion for improving the educational landscape. She understands the need to know her children are in a safe, stable school environment when I kiss them goodbye in the morning. She recognizes that school is more than a place where children learn to read and write and that clear, high expectations and healthy boundaries for youth are important. Montoya wants to make sure our children have the skills they need to thrive as adults. Her commitment extends beyond her own family, as she strives to create a better educational experience for all students in Montgomery County.
Montoya's journey began with a strong emphasis on education, starting with Head Start preschool and continuing through Catholic school due to her parents' safety concerns about her local public school. This early experience instilled in her a deep appreciation for the importance of accessible and safe educational opportunities for all children. Growing up in a home which placed a high value on education, I focused on my studies while playing a variety of sports including many years of competitive fast-pitch softball.
After graduating from high school and beginning the process to enlist in the military because I thought it was the only way to fund my college education, I learned about financial aid and instead attended and graduated from American River Community College with an Associate of Arts degree in Social Science before transferring to a four-year university. At University of California, Davis, where I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, I participated in the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, also referred to as the McNair Scholars Program, and the Summer Research Training Program at the University of California, San Francisco. After working in the Research Department of a social services nonprofit, I attended and graduated from the American University, Washington College of Law in Washington D.C. with a law degree. My global perspective is further informed by international legal studies at the University of Cape Town, South Africa and post-graduate policy studies at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.
Montoya's professional background is equally impressive. As a past PTA President, I know the value of giving parents and caregivers a voice in their children’s educational journey and the importance of adhering to policies. She understands the challenges of providing a robust menu of programs for a variety of populations while operating within a fixed budget. I know that priorities change at a moment’s notice, and flexibility in implementation and approach is important. As an attorney and small business advisor, I know that strong, sound policies and well-funded budgets keep teachers and staff safe so that our children receive the education they deserve. I know the challenge of balancing various needs and viewpoints. I know that thorough accountability, leadership, oversight, and transparency are key to smooth, successful operations.
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Montoya's commitment to public service is evident in her extensive work with underserved communities. I am a lifelong advocate for underserved communities and have dedicated my entire career to advocacy and public service. I started out working as a tutor for elementary students learning English as their second language. I worked as a research analyst at a social services nonprofit. As a public defender, I represented thousands of clients unable to afford an attorney. I founded a patient advocacy nonprofit and, as a patient advocate, provided oral and written testimony in support of and against legislation, policies and regulatory efforts by Maryland legislators and regulatory bodies with input and collaboration from relevant stakeholders.
Key Priorities for MCPS
Montoya's platform centers around three core pillars: supporting student achievement, ensuring student and staff safety, and rebuilding trust in MCPS leadership. As a mom of two young kids, MCPS' decisions affect my family's day to day life and long-term plans. I am running for the Board of Education (BOE) to: Support student achievement through sufficiently supported academic and extracurricular programs; Ensure students and staff feel safe from emotional health challenges; hate bias and violence; and Rebuild trust in MCPS and the BOE through modeling strong accountability, leadership, oversight and transparency.
Supporting Student Achievement:
Montoya believes that MCPS must reenergize students’ love of learning and support student achievement by addressing critical issues such as oversized classes, insufficient staff, and inadequate social-emotional health support. Instead of lower academic standards, students need high expectations combined with proper guidance and support to foster growth and resilience. Schools must be fully staffed, equipped with evidence-based curricula, and accessible to all learning styles to meet students where they are and move them forward. Families need clear, timely communication and resources, while staff need practical professional development and adequate planning time.
- Adequate Staffing and Resources: Addressing oversized classes and ensuring sufficient staffing are crucial for providing personalized attention to students and fostering a positive learning environment.
- Evidence-Based Curricula: Implementing curricula that are proven to be effective and accessible to all learning styles is essential for meeting students where they are and promoting academic growth.
- Clear Communication and Resources: Providing families with clear, timely communication and access to necessary resources can empower them to support their children's education.
- Professional Development: Investing in practical professional development for staff ensures that educators are equipped with the latest strategies and tools to effectively teach and support students.
Ensuring Student and Staff Safety:
Montoya is deeply committed to creating safe and supportive school environments where students can thrive and teachers can teach without fear. MCPS must ensure that schools are sanctuaries where students can learn and teachers can teach without fear. To address the youth mental health crisis, MCPS must foster a sense of belonging, teach conflict resolution skills, educate families on social-emotional health and drug use, hire sufficient counselors and social workers, and implement a strict "Away All Day" cell phone policy. To combat rising hate bias incidents, MCPS needs in-person education for staff and students, clear conduct standards, tiered reporting and consequences, and offender education by the Equity Office.
- Addressing the Youth Mental Health Crisis: Montoya recognizes the urgent need to address the growing mental health challenges faced by young people. Her proposed solutions include fostering a sense of belonging, teaching conflict resolution skills, educating families on social-emotional health and drug use, hiring sufficient counselors and social workers, and implementing a strict "Away All Day" cell phone policy.
- Combating Hate Bias Incidents: To address the rise in hate bias incidents, Montoya advocates for in-person education for staff and students, clear conduct standards, tiered reporting and consequences, and offender education by the Equity Office.
- Safe and Supportive Environments: Creating a culture of safety and respect is paramount. This includes addressing bullying, promoting positive relationships, and providing resources for students who are struggling.
Rebuilding Trust in MCPS:
Montoya believes that effective oversight is crucial for MCPS to ensure student safety and achievement. Mismanagement, such as the $315,000 crisis management contract following the Beidleman scandal and the $14 million loss from a failed electric bus contract, highlights the need for strict fiscal accountability. The Fiscal Management Committee must review contracting practices and conduct a long-overdue financial audit. Ignoring policies has led to significant waste, including $2 million from mishandled sexual harassment claims. Rebuilding public trust requires leaders who model accountability, enforce policies, and ensure transparency.
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- Fiscal Accountability: Montoya is committed to ensuring that MCPS resources are used responsibly and effectively. She calls for a review of contracting practices and a financial audit to identify and address areas of waste and mismanagement.
- Policy Enforcement: Enforcing existing policies and implementing new ones as needed is crucial for creating a fair and transparent system.
- Transparency and Accountability: Montoya believes that transparency and accountability are essential for rebuilding public trust in MCPS. She is committed to providing clear and accessible information to the community and holding leaders accountable for their actions.
Addressing Specific Concerns: The Case of Cold Spring Elementary School
Montoya has also taken a strong stance on addressing specific concerns within the MCPS system, such as the situation at Cold Spring Elementary School. For years, the Cold Spring Elementary School community has raised serious concerns that ours is the only remaining open-concept elementary school in Montgomery County. It was an experiment from the 1970’s that has long been abandoned for obvious reasons. This isn’t just an inconvenience. It creates noise and distraction that challenges every child, especially those with sensory or focus issues. This is not about privilege. It is about equity. That’s why we were encouraged by the County’s new data-driven Facility Condition Index (FCI), which offers a fair and objective way to measure school conditions. We are deeply grateful to Superintendent Taylor and the Board of Education for recognizing Cold Spring’s urgent needs, and to Dr. Some question whether our enrollment justifies a new CIP investment. For years MCPS projections have underestimated Cold Spring’s actual growth. Cold Spring also plays a unique role as a Center for Enriched Studies hub, offering instruction for gifted 4th and 5th graders throughout the Wootton and Churchill clusters. Enrollment is capped at about 108 students annually. As we look ahead to a long-overdue new facility, we’re also focused on immediate steps to keep our children safe. Despite our building’s age and limitations, our children thrive because of our teachers’ dedication and our community’s spirit. The CIP represents more than a construction project - it’s an investment in safety for our kids and teachers.
She recognizes that the open-concept design creates noise and distraction that challenges every child, especially those with sensory or focus issues. Montoya emphasizes that this is not about privilege but about equity, advocating for a fair and objective way to measure school conditions. She supports the County’s new data-driven Facility Condition Index (FCI) and expresses gratitude to Superintendent Taylor and the Board of Education for recognizing Cold Spring’s urgent needs. Montoya also addresses concerns about enrollment justifying a new CIP investment, highlighting that MCPS projections have consistently underestimated Cold Spring’s growth. She emphasizes the school's unique role as a Center for Enriched Studies hub, offering instruction for gifted students.
Montoya's dedication to Cold Spring Elementary School demonstrates her commitment to addressing specific needs within the MCPS system and advocating for equitable resources for all students. Her focus on immediate steps to keep children safe, despite the building's age and limitations, underscores her commitment to ensuring a positive learning environment for all students.
Election and Term
Rita Montoya is an at-large member of the Montgomery County Board of Education in Maryland. She assumed office on December 1, 2024. Her current term ends on December 1, 2028.
Montoya ran for election for an at-large seat of the Montgomery County Board of Education in Maryland. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
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In the general election for Montgomery County Board of Education At-large, Rita Montoya defeated incumbent Lynne Harris.
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