On April 20, 2026, the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners announced the unanimous selection of Dr. Jermaine Dawson to serve as the district’s next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Baltimore City Public Schools (City Schools), effective July 1, 2026. Below is a message from CEO Dr. Jermaine Dawson to the Baltimore City Public Schools community.
Dear Baltimore City Public Schools community,
Today is my first official day as CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, and I am deeply honored to begin this journey with our students, families, educators, staff, and community.
Thank you for your warm welcome and sharing your hopes and aspirations for City Schools. I have already experienced the pride, resilience, and commitment that define this district, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve.
I want to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Sonja Brookins Santelises for her decade of visionary leadership. Her commitment to excellence and the strong foundation that she leaves behind have positioned City Schools for continued success. We will honor that legacy by continuing to build upon the remarkable progress our district has achieved, progress that has been both locally and nationally recognized.
Every day, City Schools students are surrounded by caring educators, staff, and partners who believe in them and work tirelessly to help them succeed, which I witnessed in my visits to more than 15 schools across the district. Those visits confirmed what I already believed: City Schools is filled with extraordinary young people and dedicated professionals who care deeply about this community. I look forward to continuing those visits and meeting students, families, and staff in every school by the end of the upcoming school year.
As we prepare for the new school year, our focus remains clear. We will continue accelerating student achievement, strengthening literacy instruction, placing an even greater emphasis on mathematics, and expanding opportunities for college and career readiness. Beginning in the earliest grades, we want every student to see a pathway to success and graduate prepared for one of the Four E's: enrollment, enlistment, employment, or entrepreneurship. We are not only preparing students to succeed while they are in City Schools, we are preparing them to thrive long after they leave our classrooms. Together we will ensure that our students are career ready, future ready, world ready.
We will honor that commitment by centering our young people in every decision and providing excellent customer service to every student, family, employee, and community partner. Every interaction should reflect the respect, care, and responsiveness our community deserves.
In the weeks and months ahead, my priorities are simple: listening, learning, and leading. Shortly after the start of the school year, I will host a series of listening sessions with students, families, staff, and community members to hear your perspectives and learn how we can continue moving City Schools forward together.
I am honored to serve as your CEO and excited about the work ahead. The future of City Schools is bright, and I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and working alongside all of you to ensure every student has the opportunities they deserve.
Let's get to work.
To learn more about CEO Dr. Jermaine Dawson, visit our CEO webpage.