Harford County Approves Three New Board Of Education Members

HAVRE DE GRACE - The Harford County Council approved County Executive Bob Cassilly’s three nominations for the Board of Education on Tuesday. The appointees, Aaron Poynton, Theresa Kocher, and Lauren Strauss, will serve two-year terms on the school board, ending in 2025.

“I am confident that these new members will enable the board to fully perform their responsibility to provide a high-quality education for all students. These new members’ ability to efficiently manage large budgets and provide effective oversight of our schools is urgently needed,” Cassilly said in a statement.

Aaron Poynton

Joppatowne resident Aaron Poynton is the first in his family to attend college. He has since earned four advanced degrees, including an MBA from Duke University and a doctorate in public administration from the University of Baltimore. He is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. Poynton is also a U.S. Army Special Operations veteran with more than 20 years of global experience in the public and private sectors. His three children attend Harford County Public Schools, and he serves as president of the Harvard Business School AMP Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing educational opportunities and STEM scholarships.

Theresa Kocher

Kocher earned her master’s degree in systems management from the University of Florida and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Salisbury University. She completed the Senior Executive Fellow Program and Harvard University’s JFK Business School. She is a retired Army civilian analyst and the grandmother of two students attending Harford County Public Schools. While raising her family in Churchville with her husband, a retired teacher, Kocher taught Sunday school and was a longtime member of her church’s nursery school and daycare center board.

Lauren Strauss

Strauss is a parent of two Havre de Grace High School students and an active member of her school community. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and criminal justice from James Madison University. A project manager for a small business in the defense community, Strauss is experienced in program, financial, and acquisition management. She is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for the children of Harford County.