Jermaine Dawson, a deputy superintendent in The School District of Philadelphia and a DA Top 100 education influencer, was named the next CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools.
Dawson will take the helm on July 1, replacing Dr. Sonja Brookins Santelises, who led the district for 10 years. “His diverse leadership roles throughout his career will be a tremendous asset, as he helps propel our district by pushing students toward success while advocating for the district’s needs,” Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners Chair Robert Salley said in a statement.
Dawson was previously an administrator in Birmingham City Schools (Alabama), Fulton County Schools (Georgia), Duval County Schools (Florida) and Houston ISD (Texas).
Michael J. Thomas, now superintendent of Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools in Minnesota, was chosen to lead Hopkins Public Schools in the same state. Thomas previously served as superintendent of Colorado Springs School District 11 and an administrator in Minneapolis Public Schools.
In California, the Los Banos Unified School District selected Bree Valla as its new superintendent. Valla now leads the Vista del Mar Union School District. National School District named Leighangela Brady as its first Latina superintendent.
The Hazelwood School District made Bonita Jamison its next leader. Jamison is superintendent of the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District. In Iowa, the Clayton Ridge Community School District appointed Jay Marley to its top spot. Marley is shared superintendent of the Nashua-Plainfield and Tripoli community school districts.
In Michigan, Reed City Area Public Schools’ next superintendent is Jennifer Goodman, who previously served as superintendent of Pewamo-Westphalia Community Schools. In New York, Patrick G. Harrigan was named superintendent of the Patchogue-Medford School District. He previously led the Half Hollow Hills Central School District.
Georgia’s Carroll County Schools promoted Associate Superintendent Jessica M. Ainsworth to the top spot, while Ron Anthony, now deputy superintendent in Person County Schools, was named superintendent of Lexington City Schools in North Carolina.
In Texas, Superintendent David Walker is moving to Anahuac Independent School District from High Island ISD. Alvin ISD’s next leader is Rhonda Mason, an area superintendent at Lamar CISD.
Verenice Gutierrez takes the helm of New Mexico’s Cobre Consolidated School District on June 15. Gutierrez most recently served as the iConnect Zone superintendent in District 49 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In New York, Superintendent Christopher R. Zublionis is moving to Plainedge Local Schools from the North Shore Central School District.
More hires
- Rick Cohen, Shrewsbury Borough School (New Jersey)
- Michael Daley, Poland Local School District (Ohio)
- Brea D’Angelo, Jenkintown School District (Pennsylvania)
- Alynn Coppock, Riverside Community School District (Iowa)
- Erika Dockweiler, Riddle School District (Oregon)
- Heather Hedgepeth, Lakewood Local Schools (Ohio)
- Kevin Hesslen, Alma School District (Arkansas)
- Joel Hoff, Crook County School District (Oregon)
- Dan Marien, Chilton Public School District (Wisconsin)
- Ena Meyers, Lake Worth ISD (Texas)
- Antoine Reed, Sun Prairie Area School District (Wisconsin)
- Kelly Ryder, Solon Springs School District (Wisconsin)
DA+: Superintendents and cabinet-level leaders can sign up for a free 14-day trial to DA+ to livestream “Leading Through the Noise: Staying Grounded in a Politicized Environment” with Dr. Quintin Shepherd on April 28.
