SMOB Campaign Interview: Nimah Nayel

What is your name, grade, and school?

My name is Nimah Nayel, and I'm a junior at Richard Montgomery HS.

What experiences in student leadership do you have?

I've been class president the past 3 years, and I was really involved in my middle school SGA. I've also served as Muslim Student Association Vice President, and an Interfaith Coordinator.

On a scale of 1-10 how well is our county operating?

On a scale of 1-10, I would say 8. With targeted approaches to learning and the removal of stigma around mental health, we are definitely moving towards a brighter future in our county. My disappointment with our county's schooling is that we currently involve U.S. history in almost every history class, and we often involve only the western history within many of our courses. I plan on reforming curriculum and laying the groundwork for a shift in the very basis of our approach to learning.

​List in order what would be your priorities under your term if you were elected:

My priority when it comes to policy is first reforming our curriculum. Specifically, I hope to encourage project based learning, a more diverse selection of literature for teachers, and including education of the LGBTQ+ community in our current health classes. My second but almost as equally important priority is student protection. The inclusion of panic buttons in areas that don't receive as much traffic is high on my priority list, as are flash passes for students who suffer from anxiety or other mental disorders.

As our county is ever so expanding rapidly, what would you do about overcrowding schools?

When it comes to overcrowding schools in Montgomery County, it is a very hard issue to tackle even for the long-standing members of the Montgomery County Board of Education. My only remedy would be a possible funding of a quicker construction timetable of the school currently being planned to be built in Downtown Crown, Gaithersburg.

What characteristics do you most value in a SMOB, and how will you show those principles while your SMOB?

I really value a strong SMOB who is able to communicate clearly and concisely to their constituents. I plan on utilizing social media, my phone, my email and my website to allow myself to be closer connected to my constituents. I believe in a transparent campaign in which my constituents will be able to easily understand my goals for the county.

Any other comments?

N/A

Fun Facts:

What’s your Spirit Animal?

My Spirit Animal is a phoenix, like the one from Harry Potter! I've been through a lot of down points in my life, but like the phoenix, each time I (metaphorically) burst into flames, I emerge stronger and better than before.

What extracurricular activities do you participate in?

I've been doing Martial Arts for 9 years, I'm a hip hop dancer, and I love to ride (horses!)

Favorite Show:

FRIENDS. No offense, but if we're not Chandler and Monica.... what's the point?

Favorite Book:

The Hate You Give. 11/10 would recommend, this book was worth every word.

Favorite Celebrity:

The Obama Family has had my heart since '08

Favorite School Subject:

Math, although it's definitely not my best subject, which is actually English! I also love French :)