Maryland Superintendents Collaborate to Prepare the Next Generation of School System Leaders

20 aspiring superintendents from across the state participate in the Maryland Superintendent Academy.

Press Release: August 8, 2023

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The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM) has partnered with the U.S. Department of Education funded Region 4 Comprehensive Center (R4CC) to launch Maryland’s first statewide grow-your-own program to prepare the next generation of superintendents. The Maryland Superintendent Academy is an executive professional learning experience for aspiring superintendents who aim to accelerate student growth, champion equity, and establish effective operational structures in a rural, urban, and suburban Maryland school systems. 20 aspiring superintendents representing 14 school systems were selected for the second cohort, which will kickoff on August 8, 2023.

There is a need to proactively prepare the next generation of Maryland superintendents. Since March 2020, almost half of the nation’s largest school districts have experienced changes in leadership (ILO Group, 2022). Prior to the pandemic, the average superintendent turnover rate was 14-16 percent (AASA, 2010). Post pandemic, the turnover rate has increased to approximately 25 percent (Morton and Valley, 2022). In Maryland, the post pandemic turnover rate of superintendents was over 40 percent. The Maryland Superintendent Academy aims to build the bench of qualified and diverse aspiring superintendents that are equipped with the skills and knowledge to transition to the role and experience success as a Maryland school system leader.

Participants will learn effective practices for negotiating a superintendent contract, engage in mock interviews, participate in job shadow experiences, practice developing and managing a budget to move student achievement and create equitable learning experiences, and refine their leadership strengths and core values in preparation for the superintendency. “This program provides a unique pathway for leadership-driven candidates to prepare for the superintendency of 21st-century schools in a landscape that is constantly evolving,” says Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director of PSSAM. "We are extremely grateful to be partnering with the Region 4 Comprehensive Center to extend this opportunity to participants across Maryland."

The accelerated Academy kicks off on August 8th and 9th at Turf Valley Resort. The agenda details the two day experience and the learning plan outlines content for the full Academy.

Academy Meeting Dates and Location

Dates and Times:

August 8, 2023, 4:30 pm – 8:00 pm

August 9, 2023 from 8:00 am – 2:45 pm

Location:

Turf Valley Resort

Merriweather Room

2700 Turf Valley Road

Ellicott City, Maryland 21042

View all meeting dates, times, and location by accessing the learning plan.

Image of the cohort members participating in the 2023-2024 Maryland Superintendents' Academy, which will kickoff on August 8th, 2023 at Turf Valley Resort in Howard County, MD.

Image of current superintendents, alongside the first cohort of participants from the 2022-2023 Maryland Superintendents' Academy, which concluded in May 2023.