The national search for a new superintendent of schools is under way and the Montgomery County Board of Education invites the community to participate in public forums on March 4 and 5 as part of the search process.

The forums will give Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) parents, staff, students, and community members the opportunity to identify the educational priorities and leadership qualities they would like to see in the next superintendent.

“Public input is an important part of the superintendent search process and we encourage all community members to let their voices be heard,” said Patricia B. O’Neill, Board president. “This will be a chance for our students, staff, and stakeholders to tell us what they are looking for in the next leader of MCPS.”

Child care (for children ages 4 and older) will be available at all sessions. Foreign language interpretation services also will be available at each forum, as well. 

The dates and locations of the forums, and the interpretation services available, are as follows:

Wednesday, March 4, at 7 p.m.

-Eastern Middle School, 300 University Boulevard East in Silver Spring
Interpretation services available in Amharic, French, and Spanish

-Walter Johnson High School, 6400 Rock Spring Drive in Bethesda
Interpretation services available in Korean and Spanish

Thursday, March 5, at 7 p.m.

-Gaithersburg High School, 101 Education Boulevard in Gaithersburg
Interpretation services available in Chinese, Korean, and Spanish

-Paint Branch High School, 14121 Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville
Interpretation services available in French, Spanish, and Vietnamese

For sign language interpretation, community members are asked to call 301-517-5539 by Feb. 27.

On February 10, 2015, the Board approved a contract with Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA) to assist the Board with the search process.  Representatives from HYA will facilitate the forums.   

Members of the community also will have an opportunity to share the characteristics and expertise they would like to see in the next superintendent through an online survey and focus groups. The survey will be posted soon on the Board’s new superintendent search website.

The Board expects to have a new superintendent in place by July 1, 2015.

More information