District CEO Goldson: ‘I’m stepping away from dysfunctional school board’

Monica Goldson will resign from Prince George’s County Public Schools at the end of 2022-23.

A dysfunctional school board appears to be a leading factor in Chief Executive Officer Monica Goldson’s decision to leave Prince George’s County Public Schools at the end of 2022-23. Goldson, who has worked in the nation’s 20th-largest school district for 32 years, criticized the board of education’s “inability to work together in the best interest of our students” in announcing her resignation this week.

“At present, there is a clear divide of philosophical beliefs on the Prince George’s County Board of Education about how we should move forward as a school district,” wrote Goldson, a former student and lifelong employee of the district. “The continued political infighting among certain board members demonstrates a misalignment in the vision for the children of this county.”

Goldson did not lay blame on any one school board member, saying “the current acrimony is not about one Board Chair.” However, that board chair, Juanita Miller, was the subject just before winter break of an eight-day state disciplinary hearing that could result in her removal from office. Six former and current school board members have accused Miller of misconduct, neglect of duty and incompetence, according to Maryland Matters.


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Goldson, who graduated from the district’s Potomac High School in 1986, took over as CEO in 2019. She began her career as a high school math teacher in Prince George’s County Public Schools in 1991. She moved up the ranks, serving as principal, associate superintendent, deputy superintendent and chief operating officer.

Goldson touted the progress she and her team had made on “seemingly intractable problems” during her tenure in the district, starting with restoring the pay of all employees impacted by the Great Recession and then giving educators and staff the largest pay increase in a generation.

Prince George’s County also built 10 new schools within four years and launched a Climate Change Action Plan to reduce the district’s carbon footprint with greener buildings and cleaner transportation, by serving more nutritious food, and reducing waste, Goldson said.

Prince George’s County schools now operate full-day pre-kindergarten programs full-day and language immersion has been expanded to the district’s middle schools. Its CTE programs now offer 188 certifications in partnership with more than 200 businesses, she added.

Goldson is also a member of the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and three degrees from HBCUs: a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Florida A&M University; a master’s degree in Elementary and Secondary School Administration from Bowie State University; and a doctorate in Educational Administration and Policy from Howard University.

Matt Zalaznick
Matt Zalaznick
Matt Zalaznick is a life-long journalist. Prior to writing for District Administration he worked in daily news all over the country, from the NYC suburbs to the Rocky Mountains, Silicon Valley and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He's also in a band.

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