Baltimore City Schools CEO Santelises Named 2026 Maryland Superintendent of the Year

Dr. Sonja Brookins Santelises, chief executive officer of Baltimore City Public Schools, was named the 2026 Maryland Superintendent of the Year by the Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland, the district announced following an Oct. 30 and 31, 2025 release. The BCPS Newsroom says the award is presented annually and that Santelises will represent Maryland in the AASA National Superintendent of the Year program.

Santelises is serving in her 10th and final year as BCPS CEO, a tenure that began when she took office on July 1, 2016. BCPS archival material notes she previously served as the district’s Chief Academic Officer from 2010 to 2013 and was vice president for K-12 Policy and Practice at The Education Trust before her 2016 appointment.

In district statements issued with the announcement, BCPS credited Santelises with guiding the system through "a decisive period of academic focus and reform, emphasizing literacy, and access to rigorous coursework." The Newsroom and district materials add that her leadership produced "expanded access to advanced coursework, strengthened community partnerships, and innovative strategies to support student success," and restated the district mission "to ensure every student receives a high-quality education that prepares them for success in college, career, and life."

The Mary-land Superintendent of the Year honor is chosen annually and, according to BCPS, is selected by a panel of fellow superintendents following a rigorous application process. As winner, Santelises will move on to represent Maryland in the national AASA program, the Newsroom said.

City Schools leaders and state officials issued praise in the release. Robert Salley, chair of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners, said, "Dr. Santelises' selection as Maryland Superintendent of the Year embodies our district's belief in high expectations, hard work, and the limitless potential of our students. This honor recognizes not just her excellence, but the collective strength of a community committed to helping every child thrive. We could not be more proud of our CEO." Santelises said via the press release, "Being chosen by my peers for this recognition is both humbling and inspiring. 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."

State education leaders also weighed in. Dr. Carey Wright, State Superintendent of Schools, said, "Dr. Santelises exemplifies the bold, visionary leadership that drives real change for students." Dr. Joshua L. Michael, president of the State Board of Education, called her "both a fierce advocate for children and a preeminent instructional leader" and described the award as "a powerful affirmation of her service and legacy."

BCPS said the Board is actively searching for a new CEO and has engaged Alma Advisory Group to gather input from students, families, community members, staff, elected officials, and school administrators. On the search process, Salley added, "The goal of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners is to recruit, screen, and select the best candidate to serve as the next CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools. 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. We will continue to inform the community through ongoing updates during this entire process."

An Original Report cited in the source bundle also asserted that Baltimore City Public Schools has the state's lowest SAT scores, graduation rates, English proficiency, and the highest dropout rate and that the award decision "sparked widespread criticism from journalists, politicians, and online commentators." Those metrics and criticisms do not appear with numeric values or named critics in the district release and require further verification from Maryland education data and named statements.

For media inquiries, BCPS listed Raven Hill at 410-767-0486. Santelises will carry Maryland's flag into the AASA national Superintendent of the Year program as the district prepares for a board-led CEO transition by the end of the school year.