Erica Bennett wins Prince George's school board race after 7th killing

Erica K. Bennett, a longtime educator and principal of John H. Bayne Elementary School, has declared victory in the Prince George’s County District 9 school board race.

Bennett, 55, received 19,171 votes, or 54.1%, compared with 16,026 votes, or 45.2%, for incumbent Chandrai “CJ” Jackson-Saunders, according to unofficial election results updated Wednesday.

All 42 Election Day precincts had reported, though provisional ballots had not yet been counted.

Both candidates acknowledged the outcome on social media Wednesday.

“District 9, thank you for trusting me,” Bennett wrote on Instagram.

“I am humbled, grateful, and ready to serve.”

Jackson-Saunders conceded defeat.

Bennett has spent more than 28 years in education, including about 25 in Prince George’s County Public Schools.

She campaigned on protecting classroom resources, improving transportation and special education services, and holding district leaders accountable.

A graduate of Oxon Hill High School and parent of two PGCPS graduates, Bennett said her experiences in the district gave her firsthand insight into how leadership’s decisions affect classrooms.

In an interview with The Banner before the election, she called for an independent organizational audit to identify inefficiencies before making further cuts to school-based positions.

“We just cannot continue to ask schools to do more with less without first examining how effectively we’re using the resources that we already have,” she said.

Bennett also proposed setting measurable performance goals for the superintendent, particularly in student achievement, transportation and communication with families.

Jackson-Saunders, 65, a retired school psychologist, was appointed to the board in February to fill a vacancy.

She was the only sitting board member seeking a full term in Tuesday’s election.

During her brief tenure, Jackson-Saunders advocated for safer school transportation, greater transparency around special education staffing and stronger family engagement.

“Although I did not win, I am grateful to have served as your appointed School Board representative,” Jackson-Saunders wrote in a caption on an unrelated Instagram post Wednesday.

She said her term continues through Dec. 7 and, without missing a beat, encouraged families to attend a Thursday evening meeting on the district’s educational facilities master plan at Gwynn Park High School.

District 9 covers much of southern Prince George’s County.

The election came days after the fatal shooting of a 13-year-old, which was the 7th killing in the county in a single week.

That violence has heightened scrutiny on the school board’s role in addressing community safety and student well-being.

Bennett’s victory unseats the only incumbent on the board, signaling a shift in voter priorities.

Her focus on an independent audit and measurable superintendent goals reflects a broader demand for accountability in how the district manages its budget.

Prince George’s County Public Schools, one of Maryland’s largest districts, has faced ongoing challenges with transportation delays, special education staffing shortages and resource allocation.

Bennett has argued that before cutting school-based positions, the district must first examine where money is being spent.

She has also emphasized the need for better communication with families, many of whom have expressed frustration with how decisions are made.

The election results are unofficial until provisional ballots are counted and certified.

But with all precincts reporting, Bennett’s lead appears insurmountable.

Her term will begin after the results are certified, likely in December.

The race drew attention not just for the margin of victory, but for the context in which it occurred.

The fatal shooting of a 13-year-old was the county’s 7th killing in a week, a grim statistic that underscored the urgency of the election.

Bennett’s campaign did not focus explicitly on violence, but her platform of accountability and resource protection resonated with voters seeking change.

Jackson-Saunders, who served only a few months after being appointed, acknowledged the outcome gracefully and urged continued engagement.

“I encourage everyone to stay involved,” she wrote.

“Our work is not done.”

The school board will now have a new member who brings decades of classroom and administrative experience.

Bennett’s background as a principal gives her direct knowledge of how district-level decisions affect individual schools.

She has said that experience will guide her approach to the board.

The next steps include certification of the results and the transition of power.

Bennett has not yet outlined specific legislative priorities beyond her campaign platform.

But she has signaled that her first focus will be on the independent audit she proposed.

That audit, she has argued, could reveal where the district is wasting money and where cuts would be least harmful.

She has also stressed the importance of measurable goals for the superintendent, something she says has been lacking.

“We need to know what success looks like,” she said in her pre-election interview.

“And we need to hold people accountable for achieving it.”

The election results come at a time when school boards across the country are facing increased scrutiny.

From curriculum debates to budget crises to safety concerns, local education governance has become a high-stakes arena.

Prince George’s County is no exception.

The district serves more than 130,000 students, making it one of the largest in Maryland.

Its challenges include aging infrastructure, transportation inefficiencies and disparities in student outcomes.