Sally A. McCarthy, an education policy researcher who lives in Chevy Chase, is running for the Montgomery County Public School Board District 3 seat in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

The nonpartisan race also includes Cassandra Sung.

McCarthy, 55, said she was born in Silver Spring, raised in North Potomac and is a Wootton High School graduate, according to her responses in The Banner's 2026 voter guide. She said both of her parents were MCPS teachers, and that she is married to an MCPS graduate and is the mother of two MCPS graduates.

Candidate information

  • Age: 55
  • Residence: Chevy Chase, Maryland
  • Education: Bachelor of arts in government and politics, master of arts in education policy and PhD in education policy, all from the University of Maryland, College Park (claimed by the candidate)
  • Professional work: Policy and planning researcher at the Association of Land-Grant Universities; legislative manager at a state government relations firm; co-founder of a nonprofit, according to Montgomery Community Media

Experience and public service

McCarthy said she has served as a board member and budget chair of the Montgomery County Council of PTAs, as a PTA president at an MCPS school and as a facilitator for MCPS school-based construction and safety workgroups.

On the issues

Reading and math instruction: McCarthy said every elementary school should have a math content specialist, similar to the reading specialists already in place. She called pre-K through third-grade reading "the building block for all academic success and improved outcomes," according to her candidate responses.

Class sizes: McCarthy said class size discussions need to be revisited, especially for the youngest students. She said ratios should be set to optimize reading and math instruction, and that teachers need adequate classroom resources for upcoming curriculum changes.

School facilities: McCarthy said HVAC, plumbing and roofing failures disrupt the school day. She called for public-facing data on planned and completed facilities improvements, including repairs, according to her campaign website.

Cellphones and screen time: McCarthy said she supports classroom restrictions on student cellphone use across all grade levels. She said screen time for the youngest learners should be minimized outside of necessary access for testing and special education support.

School consolidation: McCarthy said MCPS should take "a precise and surgical approach to consolidation and closure" in the upcoming countywide elementary boundary study. She said the district relies too heavily on static data and should instead consult school communities about real-time enrollment and building use.

Maryland Blueprint implementation: McCarthy called the Blueprint "well-meaning" but said its implementation has been "incredibly overwhelming" for local school districts like MCPS during post-pandemic years of increased student needs, teacher burnout and declining investment.

Endorsements

McCarthy has received the following endorsements, according to the sources listed:

  • Montgomery County Education Association (reported by Montgomery Community Media)
  • Maryland State Education Association (per BallotReady)

Candidate positions are drawn from McCarthy's responses to The Banner's 2026 voter guide and her campaign website. Responses have been condensed for clarity.