Judy Docca last week filed paperwork seeking re-election for a fourth term on the Montgomery County school board.
The retired Montgomery County Public Schools principal said she’s been conflicted about running again, but ultimately decided she wanted to serve one last term.
In recent years, Docca has seen progress in addressing opportunity gaps between students and in other areas of importance to her, and she said she wants to keep the school system heading in that direction.
“I really think we have a chance to make some complete changes,” she said Tuesday in a phone interview.
Funding shortages will continue to strain MCPS as the school system grows and evolves, said Docca, the board’s vice president. Board members must also focus resources on meeting the needs of special education students and English language learners, Docca said.
Docca, of Montgomery Village, said she doesn’t know if she’ll face an opponent in the upcoming race for the District 1 seat, which covers Poolesville, Damascus, Clarksburg and other areas north of Gaithersburg. But she said she thinks her experience qualifies her for the school board post.
Docca spent five years working for the Washington, D.C., school system and then took a job at MCPS. She retired after 33 years in the Montgomery County school district, working as a teacher and assistant principal before becoming principal of Argyle Middle School in Silver Spring.
She grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in romance language and literature. She went on to earn a master’s degree in romance language and literature and a doctorate in education administration from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Docca, 78, said that because of her age, she doesn’t intend to campaign for a fifth term.
“I think that if I make it this time, that should be enough. That would be four times,” she said. “I will never catch up with Pat O’Neill.”
O’Neill, of Bethesda, is running for her sixth full term on the eight-member school board.
The seat occupied by Board President Michael Durso is also up for contention in the 2018 elections. While Durso has not yet filed his candidacy, Silver Spring resident Brenda Wolff has launched her campaign for the post.
Bethany Rodgers can be reached at bethany.rodgers@moco360.media.
