Just four months after BCPS Superintendent Myriam Rogers announcement her retirement, the name of the new Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent may soon be revealed.
The Baltimore County Board of Education has submitted the name of its preferred candidate for BCPS superintendent to the state for review and approval. If State Superintendent Carey Wright approves the board’s choice, the BCPS school board will announce the finalist on June 22.
The board will hold a closed session on June 24 at 6:15 p.m., followed by a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. to officially appoint the superintendent, according to a BCPS press release. The new superintendent will take office on July 1.
In February, Rogers, superintendent since 2023, announced she would retire effective July 1, with a year left in her contract. The board then began a compressed search process, contracting with Ray and Associates LLC, a national search firm, to identify a replacement.
Four finalists were selected:
• William Heiser is chief operating officer for Anne Arundel County Public Schools and a former principal in Baltimore County. Anne Arundel County is the fourth-largest school system in Maryland, with more than 85,000 students and 130 schools.
• Penelope Martin-Knox is in her fourth year as superintendent of a suburban school district in Kansas City, Missouri. She has more than 30 years of experience in education, including time as a central office administrator in Baltimore County.
• Edward Ryans is associate superintendent for high schools and nontraditional programs in Prince George’s County Public Schools. His 30-year career spans the classroom, school leadership, and central office administration. Prince George’s County is the state’s second-largest school system.
• David Sovine is superintendent of Washington County Public Schools, which serves about 22,000 students across 45 schools. His more than 30 years in education include serving as superintendent of Frederick County Public Schools in Virginia for 11 years. He currently serves as president of the Public School Superintendents Association of Maryland Executive Board.
Forty-one candidates applied for the superintendent position. As part of the process, Ray and Associates solicited input from the public and staff through forums and an online survey. The firm also interviewed the four finalists and led a public town hall at George Washington Carver on June 16.
The process is being criticized by organizations such as the League of Women Voters and NAACP Randallstown.