Baltimore's educational landscape has been marked by significant achievements under the tenure of Dr. Sonja Brookins Santelises, CEO of the city's public schools. Her efforts have been recognized, as she was named the 2026 Maryland Superintendent of the Year by the Public School Superintendents Association of Maryland (PSSAM), as reported by FOX Baltimore.
This recognition is conferred annually to superintendents who exhibit outstanding performance in educational leadership, communication, professionalism, and community involvement. Upon receiving this honor, Dr. Santelises stated, "Being chosen by my peers for this recognition is both humbling and inspiring," as noted in a press release by CBS Baltimore. "It reflects the collective work of our students, educators, families, and community partners who believe in what is possible for Baltimore's young people. This honor belongs to them as much as it does to me."
During her leadership, Baltimore City Public Schools have seen impressive gains in student literacy proficiency and have invested heavily in the arts, with a notable increase in the number of fine arts teachers. Noteworthy, too, is the growth in reading among large urban school districts and improvements in facilities such as air conditioning in schools, which went from 75 non-air-conditioned schools in 2016 to none in 2025. The educational system also celebrates a sharp rise in students taking Advanced Placement courses and succeeding on the exams—figures that speak to the diligence of Dr. Santelises and her educational strategy.
The search for a new CEO is underway as Dr. Santelises approaches the conclusion of her transformative tenure. According to CBS Baltimore, the Board, in collaboration with Alma Advisory Group and based on community input, is working to identify a candidate who embodies the desired qualities. "It's our stated purpose to mitigate bias at every step and lead a transparent CEO search process guided by the input of the City Schools community, reflect Board policy, and abide by State legislation," explained Robert Salley, chair of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners.
The district's timeline anticipates an active recruitment phase, followed by finalist interviews through the early part of next year, and a planned start for the new CEO on July 1, 2026.
