Tyra Bennett nears victory in Prince George’s District 6 school board race

Tyra Janet Bennett, a Prince George’s County native who founded a community tutoring initiative, appears on her way to securing a seat on the county’s Board of Education. The 24-year-old holds a strong lead over Ashley Kearney in the District 6 race, according to unofficial election results.

Bennett received 13,771 votes, or 54.4%, compared with Kearney’s 11,386 votes, or 45%. All 45 Election Day precincts had reported, though provisional ballots had not yet been counted as of 11:30 a.m. Friday. Election officials must certify the results by Nov. 13 under state law.

In an email to The Banner on Friday, Bennett expressed gratitude for voters’ support while acknowledging that the results had not yet been certified.

“I’m encouraged by the support District 6 voters have shown,” she said. “I also recognize that the canvassing and certification process is still underway.”

Although Bennett has not publicly declared victory, Kearney conceded defeat in a Facebook post earlier this week.

“I did not win, but so many other things went right this midterm election,” Kearney wrote Wednesday. “Thank you for the support. As always, the work continues.”

Bennett is poised to succeed Branndon Jackson, who was elected in 2022 but did not seek reelection. District 6 includes District Heights, Forestville, Walker Mill, Westphalia and parts of Upper Marlboro.

Raised and educated in Prince George’s County, Bennett founded the District 6 Literacy & Learning Lab, a volunteer initiative offering free reading and math support to students and families. She has also worked as a youth golf instructor and certified nursing assistant and is a vocal participant of Prince George’s County Board of Education Roundtable, a Facebook group connecting parents and educators on district issues.

Bennett campaigned on improving academic achievement, increasing budget transparency and giving families a greater voice in school decisions.

In her candidate questionnaire for The Banner, she called for closer scrutiny of district spending and earlier intervention for students struggling with reading and math.

“We cannot simply measure success by how much money we spend,” Bennett wrote in a Facebook post on Election Day. “We must also look at whether students are actually learning.”

Kearney, 36, an educator and former district administrator, previously ran for the District 6 seat in 2022 before losing to Jackson. This year, she campaigned on restoring public trust in the school system, addressing transportation problems and protecting educational quality amid budget cuts.

With another round of budget discussions approaching, Bennett told The Banner she wants to ensure financial decisions reflect the needs of students, educators and individual schools.

“I want to approach this responsibility thoughtfully and make informed decisions on behalf of District 6,” she said, adding that she plans to begin by learning more about the concerns of the communities she would represent.