MARYLAND (TIP): The Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) and national Trump resistance organization Run For Something have endorsed Indian American educator Samir Paul, who is running for the Maryland House of Delegates from District 16.

“In a chaotic political environment, we have to reaffirm our commitment to public schools as a place where we give every young person a shot. Samir is the perfect steward of that bold vision,” MCEA President Chris Lloyd said in a statement issued by the Paul campaign.

These are the first organizational endorsements of any challenger for the District 16 race, according to the campaign.

Run For Something, a leading Trump resistance group that launched in early 2017 to support young, progressive candidates for office, also extended their support to Paul.

“Young people aren’t the future; we’re the present. I’m proud to be part of a nationwide tidal wave of millennials claiming a seat at the table. I see this as an opportunity to show my students that they’re never too young to make a difference,” Paul said about Run For Something’s endorsement.

The district, which is in the affluent Bethesda area of the Montgomery County, are currently represented by Democrats C. William Frick, Ariana B. Kelly and Marc A. Korman.

Kelly and Korma are running again, while Frick is running for county executive.

In the most recent filing, Paul reported having $108,000 cash on hand—most by a challenger vying for the open seat.

“We’re off to a strong start, and we have the resources to run a robust campaign,” he said. “These fundraising numbers are validation that our efforts to knock on doors and talk to voters are making an impact. This community wants to protect and strengthen our schools, transportation, economy, and environment, and I’ll never stop fighting for that vision — no matter what’s happening down the Red Line in Washington.”

Paul’s parents came to the United States in the early 1980s.

 “My family’s American story was made possible by great public schools, and I’m eager to join with teachers, parents, and the wider community to renew that promise for my students and for a whole new generation of young people,” he said. “I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work. It’s a great honor to have the support of educators across the state,” he added.

Paul, who left a lucrative job in the private sector to teach computer science at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, his alma mater, was named Montgomery County’s “Rising Star Teacher of the Year” in 2016. Last year, the National Education Association recognized him as one of its “30 Under 30” educators.

Paul started the STEM Talent Pipeline program for young for giving science education to 40 young, low-income, and underrepresented minority 3rd-grade girls.

According to his campaign website, Paul was a teacher representative at the 2016 White House summit on expanding computer science education and led his students to the highest average AP Computer Science Exam scores in five years. He is also a leader in the Montgomery County Education Association, where he helps organize the county’s 13,000 teachers.

“I want to be a voice for public institutions that make stories like mine possible for families across Maryland,” he said on his website. I want to make it easier to raise a family, move around the region, start a business, and age with dignity and comfort. That’s why I’m running to represent District 16 in Maryland’s House of Delegates this June.”

Paul earned his bachelor’s in computer science from Harvard University. He also holds a Master’s degree in teaching from American University.