The Prince George’s County Council appointed Aimee Olivo as the District 4 Board of Education member on Tuesday.
Olivo will serve the remainder of former District 4 representative Shayla Adams-Stafford’s term, which ends in 2028. The seat was left vacant after Adams-Stafford resigned from the board in December to run for the vacant Prince George’s County Council District 5 seat.
Acting County Executive Tara Jackson nominated Olivo for the board position in February.
Prince George’s County Appointments Liaison Miriam Brewer said the county received 27 applications for the position. Olivo completed two rounds of interviews before speaking at a county council meeting in March as part of the hiring process.
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At the public council hearing on her appointment Tuesday, Olivo spoke about her qualifications and asked the council members to vote to approve her nomination. She said her previous experience will put her in a “unique position” to serve residents within her district.
“Council members, you know me,” Olivo said. “You know my work and you know my professional qualifications for this role.”
Olivo serves as the executive director of Art Works Now, a nonprofit organization in Prince George’s County aiming to provide arts education experiences to students of all ages and abilities, according to its website.
Olivo served as chief of staff for former District 3 county council member Dannielle Glaros from 2014 to 2022, according to Jackson’s appointment letter. In this position, she managed legislation and maintained relationships with constituents, elected officials and nonprofit leaders, the letter read.
Olivo also served on the Board of Trustees for Prince George’s Community College, according to the letter.
Former state delegate Susie Proctor and former member of the community college’s Board of Trustees spoke at the meeting in support of Olivo’s confirmation. Proctor said Olivo was known for listening to different perspectives to ensure the board made the right decisions.
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“She holds the banner high for what she knows is possible for all residents in the county in pursuit of education,” Proctor said. “She understands the roles and responsibilities of the boards and the government standards that ensures that she listens to her constituents.”
During the meeting, non-profit executive director Carlos Lam discussed Olivo’s experience as the parent teacher association president at Gladys Noon Spellman Elementary School. In the role, Olivo provided childcare, dinner and translation services at PTA, Lam said.
During the county council committee meeting in March, Olivo said she hopes to provide similar services as a board member to increase parental involvement and engagement — one of her main goals for the role.
Although several community members spoke in favor of Olivo’s appointment, two speakers were opposed.
Viviana Lozano, a lead organizer for the Central American Solidarity Association, called on the council to appoint a Latino board member, saying the school system needs someone who understands the challenges of Latino students
Adams-Stafford added that it’s important for the school board to have a Latino board member to better represent the school system’s about 40 percent Latino student population.
Adams-Stafford asked the council to consider delaying the vote so the incoming county executive will have an opportunity to appoint someone for the position instead.
“It gives me great pause to think about the thousands and thousands of people that live in District 4,” Adams-Stafford said. “Will they have adequate representation or will the incoming person just represent a select few?”
Jackson voiced her enthusiasm for Olivo’s confirmation to the school board in a news release on Tuesday.
“[Olivo] brings a proven track record of inclusive leadership — including meaningful relationships within our county’s Latino community and a commitment to ensuring every family feels seen, heard and valued,” Jackson wrote.
