Baltimore County Public Schools Announces Four Finalists for Superintendent

Monday, June 15, 2026

Baltimore County Public Schools has named four finalists to succeed retiring superintendent Myriam Rogers, including three Maryland administrators and one from Missouri, with a final decision expected by late June. The new leader will oversee one of the state's largest districts serving 108,000 students, tasked with maintaining its high academic performance and navigating complex educational challenges.

Baltimore County Public Schools has announced four finalists for the position of superintendent as it seeks to replace Myriam Rogers, who is retiring after leading the district since 2023. The finalists include three Maryland-based school administrators and one from Missouri.

The school board retained Ray and Associates, an executive search firm, to conduct a nationwide search for candidates. The process included public and staff input gathered through forums and an online survey. The finalists are scheduled to participate in a town hall meeting at 6:30 p.m. on June 16 at the George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology. The board aims to make a final appointment by the week of June 22.

Board Chair Jane Lichter expressed enthusiasm about the candidate pool, encouraging community members to attend the town hall to learn more about their qualifications and visions for the district.

The finalists include William Heiser, currently the chief operating officer of Anne Arundel County Public Schools, which serves approximately 85,000 students across 130 buildings, making it the fourth-largest district in the state. Heiser has experience managing a contentious three-year redistricting process in Anne Arundel County, which drew criticism from some stakeholders.

Edward Ryans serves as associate superintendent for high schools and nontraditional programs in Prince George’s County Public Schools, the state’s second-largest district. David Sovine, superintendent of Washington County Public Schools and president of the Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland Executive Board, is also a finalist. Sovine has completed one term in Washington County and has announced he will not seek a second contract.

Penelope Martin-Knox, superintendent of the Raytown C-2 School District in Missouri, rounds out the group. Her district includes about 8,000 students in 15 schools. Martin-Knox previously held several leadership roles within Baltimore County Public Schools’ central office.

Rogers, 51, has chosen to retire to spend more time with her family after 30 years in education, including starting her career as a chemistry teacher at Woodlawn High School. At the time of her departure, she was earning an annual salary of $338,334 and was among the highest-paid school chiefs in Maryland. She leaves a district of approximately 108,000 students, which recently maintained its top ranking in the state for five-star rated schools, with most of its 161 schools receiving at least three stars on the latest Maryland Report Card.

The new superintendent will face the challenge of continuing to lead one of Maryland’s largest and highest-performing districts amid ongoing educational and operational demands.