‘Cautiously optimistic’: Terence Clegg Sr. leads vacant Prince George’s District 2 school board race

After more than four months without representation on the Prince George’s County Board of Education, District 2 voters appear to have picked their representative.

Terence Clegg Sr., a state government administrator and father of three students in the district, received 9,716 votes, or 58.8%. His opponent, Caroline Decaire-Goldin, received 6,681 votes, or 40.5%, according to unofficial election results.

All 29 Election Day precincts had reported, though provisional ballots had not yet been counted as of 12:30 p.m. Friday. Under state law, election officials must certify the results by Nov. 13.

Despite his sizable lead, Clegg, 44, told The Banner in a Thursday phone call that he was “cautiously optimistic” and wanted to wait for the remaining results before declaring victory.

“I don’t want to obviously jump the gun,” he said, adding that he respects his opponent and appreciates her graciousness throughout the campaign. “I wish all races were like that.”

Decaire-Goldin, 37, has not officially conceded defeat. She said in a text message Thursday that she was still monitoring mail-in ballot counts but was grateful for the support her campaign received.

“I’m honored that nearly 41% of voters believed in what this grassroots campaign set out to do,” she said. “It has been a privilege to speak about my time as a teacher in PGCPS and to have my children alongside me at events and the polls. I’m grateful to every volunteer and supporter who made this momentum possible.”

The winner will fill a seat left vacant since June, when former board member Jonathan Briggs resigned for reasons that remain unknown. County Executive Aisha Braveboy did not appoint an interim replacement, leaving District 2 without a representative amid school transportation problems and looming budget decisions.

District 2 includes College Park, Greenbelt, Berwyn Heights, Riverdale Park, New Carrollton and parts of Lanham and Hyattsville.

Clegg, who works for the Maryland Department of Human Services and founded a mediation practice, campaigned on improving school transportation, strengthening special education services and protecting classroom resources amid budget cuts. He also called for reviewing administrative spending and technology subscriptions before reducing school-based positions.

But his first priority, should he win, will be strengthening parent involvement, particularly at schools without active parent-teacher associations or organizations.

“I really want to center our parents and make sure they have a seat at the table,” he said.

Clegg said he has already begun receiving emails from District 2 families about challenges at their schools and hopes to visit campuses to help parents organize.

Decaire-Goldin, a former PGCPS teacher and instructional coach who now works in education leadership in D.C., campaigned on restoring family trust, improving transparency and ensuring schools have adequate resources.

Decaire-Goldin said she intends to remain involved in education advocacy.

“There are many ways to effect the change we want to see in our school system,” she said, “and I look forward to continuing to connect with our community and amplify the voices of those most affected by the decisions made about our schools.”