A former Frederick County Public Schools teacher said he wants to engage parents and add more support for teachers as he runs for the school board.
Tyler Walker, a regional sales manager for an information technology manufacturer, filed to run for a seat on the Frederick County Board of Education in 2026. He also serves as a captain in the Maryland Army National Guard.
Walker said in an interview that his biggest priorities for the school district would be increasing collaboration with parents, increasing academic achievement and using the school system's budget wisely to better support Frederick County Public Schools teachers.
He said in addition to town halls or other opportunities for parents to share their concerns with the school board in a less formal setting, he would "bridge that gap" with parents who were not engaged by having one-on-one conversations with them.
Walker said that when he was teaching at Monocacy Middle, around 5% of parents responded to emails or showed up to school meetings.
"I want to be the voice for parents who are busy and don't feel like they have the time to do these things," he said.
Walker began teaching high school social studies and coaching football in Fauquier County in Virginia in 2016. He was deployed to Poland in 2019 and returned a year later to teach remotely during the COVID pandemic.
He said teaching was rewarding for him, especially when students would tell him that they're pursuing a certain career because Walker inspired them.
He began teaching social studies at Monocacy Middle in the fall of 2020, and he left the school district in December 2021.
Walker said he left the school district for a number of reasons, including, primarily, the teacher salary, which he said is too low. He also said there was a lack of teacher support.
He said that during his time teaching at Monocacy Middle, there was no school resource officer (SRO). Sheriff's Office SROs use the high school as a base, and provide service and a roving presence to the feeder middle and elementary schools outside of areas covered by municipal police departments, according to a Frederick County Sheriff's Office information webpage.
The Frederick Police Department provides the SRO for Monocacy Middle, according to the webpage.
When asked a follow-up question about the claim after the interview, Walker clarified in a text message that he did recall seeing a Frederick police officer at the school in the morning and at the end of the day. But he said he did not recall seeing the officer during the school day.
Walker also clarified by text message that he was assigned to a portable classroom, so it's possible he just would not have been in a position to see an officer during the school day.
SROs are sheriff's deputies or police officers assist in maintaining a safe environment in schools and serve as mentors and positive role models, according to FCPS' website.
Walker said too much of FCPS' budget goes to FCPS Central Office resources instead of toward hiring more aides or SROs. He said teachers were getting resources "that we don't even need, that we're not even using."
"They told me that unless there's blood, or some sort of extreme violence, then don't call the front office," he said. "Are you out of your mind? I can't facilitate a classroom with this level of behavioral issues within the room."
Walker said he wants to see Policy 443, the school district's gender affirmation policy, be amended to include more parental involvement.
Policy 443 was created to "prevent discrimination ... and bullying of students who are transgender or gender nonconforming." It allows students to use restrooms and be on sports teams that match their gender identity, and instructs FCPS employees to not disclose a student's status with their parents without the student's consent.
The school board's Policy Committee is considering amending Policy 443's rules for sports teams and restrooms to match current case law.
Walker said some students at Monocacy Middle asked to be called by a different name and asked what Walker thought of the change.
"This is not my place. You should be speaking to your parents," he said of the conversation. "I'm a male teacher in a county where this would blow up if I gave any sort of input or try to give guidance to a young girl about this issue."
Walker said he wanted every parent to feel comfortable sending their kids to school in FCPS, and not "an indoctrination camp."
"You're not sending your kids to some place that they're going to be fed someone's beliefs or opinions," he said.
Walker added that he would also focus on early intervention for students, as well as toning down the party politics on the school board. More information about his views are available on his website: walkerforfrederick.com.
Walker has three children -- a son who is an FCPS student, a 4-year-old daughter and another son who is 7 months old.
For the 2026 election, four seats are on the ballot.
Casey Day, Jess Douglass, Heather Fletcher, Chad King Wilson Sr., David Migdal, Chloe Celeste, Shelley Potter, Geoffrey Seidel and Nathan Foltz have filed to run.
Walker, Seidel and Potter plan to file as the "Common Sense Slate."
Current school board members Karen Yoho and Nancy Allen have said they are not running again. Board President Rae Gallagher and Vice President Dean Rose have said they are unsure if they will run again.
The deadline to file to run is 9 p.m. on Feb. 24, 2026.
The primary election is on June 30, 2026, and the general election is on Nov. 3, 2026.