Board of Education will restart search for a new superintendent

(NOTE: This release was updated on May 21, 2015 to reflect approval of Mr. Bowers' appointment by the Maryland State Superintendent of Schools.)

The Montgomery County Board of Education unanimously appointed Larry A. Bowers as interim superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) for the 2015-2016 school year. Mr. Bowers, a 37-year veteran of MCPS, has been serving as interim superintendent since February.

“Larry Bowers has done an outstanding job as interim superintendent since he stepped into the role in February and we are pleased that he will serve our students and staff for another year,” said Patricia B. O’Neill, president of the Board. “He is the right person to provide the stability and leadership we need at this time in the history of MCPS, especially as we face significant budgetary challenges in the coming months.”

Mr. Bowers, 66, who served as the district’s chief operating officer for 16 years, had planned to retire at the end of this school year but, at the request of the Board, agreed to put it off for one more year.

“MCPS is an outstanding district, with strong community support and an excellent staff that is committed to meeting the needs of our students,” Mr. Bowers said. “I am honored to continue leading this district for another year and thank the Board of Education members for their confidence in the work we are doing.”

In February, Mr. Bowers was appointed to serve as interim superintendent from February 16, 2015, until June 30, 2015, while the Board conducted a search for a new superintendent of schools. His new appointment runs from July 1, 2015, until June 30, 2016 and has been approved by the Maryland state superintendent of schools, as required by state law.

“Our hope was to have a permanent superintendent in place for next school year but, at this time, we believe it is best to move forward in this manner,” Mrs. O’Neill said. “We are grateful that Mr. Bowers has agreed to stay for another year and look forward to finding a permanent superintendent to lead our district in the future.”

Over the past three months, much of Mr. Bowers’ focus has been on the MCPS operating budget and managing an expected shortfall due to lagging local revenue and a cut in state funding.

“Mr. Bowers inherited the leadership of this district during a very challenging time and he has had to make some difficult decisions,” Mrs. O’Neill said. “But he has made these decisions in a thoughtful, collaborative manner, which has been the hallmark of his career at MCPS. We are confident that another year of his leadership will enable us to build a stronger district for the next superintendent in 2016.”

Mr. Bowers joined MCPS in 1978 and has served in a variety of leadership positions in the district, including chief operating officer, deputy superintendent, chief financial officer, and budget director. Mr. Bowers has guided strategic planning and the implementation of continuous improvement in MCPS using the Malcolm Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence. In 2010, under Mr. Bowers’ leadership, MCPS was awarded the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award—the nation’s highest honor for organizational excellence.

Picture of Mr. Bowers

Approval of Mr. Bowers' Appointment by State Superintendent of Schools