MSDE town hall solicits public input on leadership profile, sets timeline toward July superintendent start
January 16, 2024 | Maryland Department of Education, School Boards, Maryland
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An online town hall hosted by the Maryland State Department of Education asked residents on the record and in anonymous comment to weigh in on a leadership profile and desired characteristics for the state’s next superintendent.
Jack Smith, the meeting facilitator, outlined the selection timeline and said MSDE plans to present a leadership profile to the state board in January, run a national search in February and March, present a slate of roughly 10–14 candidates in March and aim to have a new state superintendent in place on July 1, 2024. "Their goal is to have a new state superintendent fully in place on 07/01/2024," Smith said.
Smith also directed listeners to a survey on the MSDE website meant to gather broader input; he said the survey is available in languages other than English, can be forwarded, and that the website shows the exact end date.
Participants urged officials to preserve recent momentum at MSDE while improving areas they see as weak. One participant described the department as "at a rebuilding moment in time" and said board oversight and staff rebuilding are needed to sustain implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.
Kevin Michael, who said he previously worked with Smith during Smith’s time at Calvert County Public Schools, praised the current momentum and urged the next superintendent to allow directors to "do their jobs" and to prioritize "effective communication, timely communication" with local education agencies.
Madeline Fleisher, a Prince George’s County school board member, urged that the state’s next superintendent better reflect Maryland’s growing diversity, saying "diversity is essential" and that the state is "missing diversity" at upper levels of leadership.
Smith reminded participants that Maryland law establishes four-year terms for state and local superintendents and emphasized that the board will compile anonymous feedback from these town halls into a leadership profile to guide the search. He also said two additional town halls were scheduled that week.
The town hall ran on Zoom; staff said the live stream experienced technical problems but that a Zoom recording would be produced. The meeting closed after brief additional comments and thanks.
Jack Smith, the meeting facilitator, outlined the selection timeline and said MSDE plans to present a leadership profile to the state board in January, run a national search in February and March, present a slate of roughly 10–14 candidates in March and aim to have a new state superintendent in place on July 1, 2024. "Their goal is to have a new state superintendent fully in place on 07/01/2024," Smith said.
Smith also directed listeners to a survey on the MSDE website meant to gather broader input; he said the survey is available in languages other than English, can be forwarded, and that the website shows the exact end date.
Participants urged officials to preserve recent momentum at MSDE while improving areas they see as weak. One participant described the department as "at a rebuilding moment in time" and said board oversight and staff rebuilding are needed to sustain implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.
Kevin Michael, who said he previously worked with Smith during Smith’s time at Calvert County Public Schools, praised the current momentum and urged the next superintendent to allow directors to "do their jobs" and to prioritize "effective communication, timely communication" with local education agencies.
Madeline Fleisher, a Prince George’s County school board member, urged that the state’s next superintendent better reflect Maryland’s growing diversity, saying "diversity is essential" and that the state is "missing diversity" at upper levels of leadership.
Smith reminded participants that Maryland law establishes four-year terms for state and local superintendents and emphasized that the board will compile anonymous feedback from these town halls into a leadership profile to guide the search. He also said two additional town halls were scheduled that week.
The town hall ran on Zoom; staff said the live stream experienced technical problems but that a Zoom recording would be produced. The meeting closed after brief additional comments and thanks.
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