On July 1st, Sonja Santelises will take over as CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools. Her predecessor, Gregory Thornton, served less than two years in the position, facing criticism for poor communication and calls for his resignation from parents, education advocates, and state lawmakers. We speak to Sonja Santelises about her plans and her prior experience as the city’s former chief academic. And we hear from current and former school board members about the replacement process, including what makes a strong candidate and why the search for Thornton’s replacement was not publicly announced. Plus, how much of an impact do school CEOs have on student achievement? One study debunks the myth of the “rock star” superintendent.
Our guests:
Dr. Sonja Santelises, Baltimore City Public Schools' new CEO
Marnell Cooper, chairman of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners
David Stone, former member of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners
Russ Whitehurst, Senior Fellow in Economic Studies for The Center on Children and Families at The Brookings Institution
