A Psychologist and Educational Advocate, but First a Mom!
As a Psychologist, Michele has been working to improve the lives of families for 30 years. The most challenging aspects of her own life, however, have made her the most effective advocate for others. Her past experiences with serious medical conditions, caring for an aging parent, and parenting beautifully neurodiverse children strengthened her belief that access to high-quality medical and behavioral health care is a basic human right and that family medical leave policies should reflect this truth.
As a fierce educational advocate for children with disabilities, Michele co-founded a support group for families with disabilities and chaired the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Tourette Association of America. All three of her boys graduated from Baltimore County Public Schools and are pursuing their dreams. Her middle son currently serves our country as an active duty officer in the US Army.
Leadership and Advocacy FOR Public School
In 2015, Michele was appointed by Governor Hogan to the Maryland State Board of Education which oversees an annual budget of $8 billion, provides oversight to local education agencies, and makes policy decisions affecting public education in Maryland. She has actively worked to bring the needs of the students, teachers, and the community to the forefront of Board priorities. She initiated and chaired the State Board committee on student mental health issues focused on reducing student suicide and sex trafficking in schools. She has been appointed to numerous State Commissions addressing school safety issues, graduation requirements, and adult learning, in addition to serving on the Governor’s P-20 Leadership Council. Michele currently serves on the Maryland Commission on Disabilities, as a Director of the Kennedy Krieger Institute, and as president of the board of “My Heart’s Home”, a non-profit dedicated to developing integrated supportive living communities for citizens with diverse needs. Michele is proud to have a proven record of working across the aisle within the General Assembly to improve outcomes for our students regardless of politics.
Michele Guyton was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2018 and serves on the Ways & Means Committee and Education and Early Childhood Subcommittees. In 2022 she was elected by her colleagues to serve on the Executive Board of the Maryland Legislative Women’s Caucus and is an active member of the Legislative Veteran’s Caucus as a proud Army Mom!
Deeply Connected Baltimore County’s Education, Arts, and Community Life
Michele and her husband of 32 years made the choice to settle their family in Baltimore County over 20 years ago after recognizing the unique and special qualities of the area. Dr. Greg Guyton is an Orthopedic Surgeon who has cared for thousands of patients in Baltimore County. Their entire family has been actively involved in the Baltimore theater and music communities for many years. Michele also volunteers with the Student Support Network to connect families who struggle with food insecurity to resources through Baltimore County Schools. She organized the food and essential items distributions at Cockeysville Middle School during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Michele completed her B.A. in Psychology and Anthropology from Vanderbilt University, her joint M.A. in Women’s Studies and Psychology from Radcliffe College and Brandeis University and her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Brandeis University. She is committed to serving the community she loves by fighting for District 42B as fiercely as she has fought for her own family and others.