Prince George’s County names Dr. Shawn Joseph interim superintendent; unveils 100‑day plan

Prince George’s County Public Schools introduced Dr. Shawn Joseph as interim superintendent on June 27 and unveiled a 100‑day entry plan aimed at stabilizing operations and accelerating student achievement.

The plan centers on five priorities Joseph described as strategic alignment with the Board of Education, talent development, academics, implementing the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, and strengthening family, community and union engagement. “I’m launching my hundred day entry plan today, a focused, transparent approach to stabilizing, aligning, and beginning to accelerate work, across our district,” Joseph said.

Why it matters: county and school leaders said restoring trust and improving outcomes are immediate goals. County Executive Ayesha Braveboy, a PGCPS graduate, said she sought someone with local knowledge and experience and noted the board approved Joseph’s contract the night before in the same building. “We have not been as united as a county as we are right now, and we’re gonna stay that way because our constituents are counting on us,” Braveboy said.

Key elements and schedule: Joseph said the 100‑day plan is organized into 30/60/100‑day milestones and includes monthly meetings between the superintendent and each board member, an audit of academic and operational performance, and a public landing page to track progress. He pledged to “review the academic data for every school in the district,” align staffing and hiring to the district’s needs, and work with unions to produce respectful contracts.

Family engagement: Dr. Sheila Jackson, the district’s director of Family and Community Partnerships, outlined outreach to reestablish a county council of parent leadership organizations and to host monthly in‑person and virtual meetings in all nine Board of Education districts. “We will be creating the opportunity to host parent and community advisory groups where parents will come together with the superintendent,” she said.

Finances and implementation: When asked about costs, Joseph said he had not fully costed the plan and that many early actions (monthly meetings and listening sessions) are time‑based. “Much of the stuff, you know, meeting monthly, that doesn't cost anything,” he said, while adding that longer‑term investments will likely require funding beyond the first 100 days. He also said the district will review how federal Title dollars are being used to assess return on investment.

Accountability and past scrutiny: Joseph addressed questions about his record in Nashville, citing gains in reading achievement and investments in mental health and community schools. He acknowledged personnel challenges there but said he was not the subject of disciplinary action by a board and emphasized lessons learned. “I listen, I reflect, I grow, and I'm better, because of it,” he said.

What’s next: Joseph said he will provide updates after 30, 60 and 100 days and that the district will publish progress to a website landing page. He invited parents and community members to take part in district meetings and promised that translation and interpretation services will be provided to reach diverse families. The district offered to schedule follow‑up interviews with media to address deeper topics.

Sources: Remarks and Q&A at the June 27 press conference organized by Prince George’s County Public Schools.