A day after announcing the resignation of Baltimore City Public School System CEO Bonnie Copeland, chairman of the Board of School Commissioners, Brian Morris, introduced Charlene Cooper-Boston on Tuesday as interim CEO effective July 1.
For the past four years, Cooper-Boston has been superintendent of the Wicomico County public schools and previously spent 35 years working in the Baltimore City school system as a teacher, principal and administrator.
Cooper-Boston earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Morgan State University and received a Ph.D. in Human Growth and Development, Administration and Supervision, Early Childhood Education from the University of Maryland, College Park.
“I had completed my contract with Wicomico and was considering retirement when I was approached by Baltimore,” Cooper-Boston said. “I thought, maybe I don?t want to retire. I do value the city and do want to help the children here. My roots are in the Baltimore community.”
Cooper-Boston said she has not ruled herself out as candidate for the full-time position.
Morris said the board will convene public meetings to develop a profile for the CEO position and is considering hiring a professional search firm to aid in the national hunt for a new schools chief.
Though it?s hoped a full-time CEO will be in place by the start of the next school year, no timetable has yet been set.
During Copeland?s tenure, the school system cleared a $58 million deficit and repaid a $42 million loan to the city this spring.
Copeland said she resigned to spend more time with her family and does not have any immediate plans for the future.
Morris stressed the need for continuity at a time when Baltimore City public school students are beginning to make academic progress, especially in the lower grades and in terms of high-school graduation rates.
Copeland also said she expects Baltimore high school graduation rates to show significant improvement for the second straight year when those figures are released later this summer.
“Dr. Cooper-Boston?s willingness to become interim CEO will allow us to continue the momentum of providing our students with a rigorous academic program,” Morris said. “Her long track record with the BCPSS will enable us to build on solid academic progress announced in recent days.”
