Montgomery County Teacher Elected to State Board of Education
Nicole Murray-Lewis scored a big victory in the statewide election to fill the State Board of Education active teacher seat held November 3-17. Murray-Lewis won 40% of the vote in a 20-candidate field. Her term in office will begin no later than July 1, 2026.
“I believe that education is the greatest equalizer in society,” Murray-Lewis told delegates to MSEA’s Representative Assembly in October. “I don’t say that to sound cliché. I say that as the granddaughter of two sharecroppers on Long Plantation in Lafayette, Louisiana—one with a second-grade education and the other with a sixth-grade education. I say that as a child born to teenage parents, raised by grandparents who made sacrifices so their first grandchild could achieve things they could only dream of.”
Her victory, following an overwhelming endorsement by the RA delegates, marks the second teacher and MSEA member to fill the position. The seat, which MSEA fought for and won in 2019, ensures that the voice of an active teacher would be heard on the State Board. The seat has been held since its creation by Carroll County’s Rachel McCusker, who is term limited.
“Policy must reflect the reality of our classrooms and the voices of all educators,” said Murray-Lewis. “I will work to bridge divides, lift up voices too often ignored, and advance policies that prepare every child for success in the 21st century—no matter their background or zip code.”