Baltimore City Public Schools selected a Philadelphia education leader, Jermaine Dawson, as its new CEO, succeeding Sonja Brookins Santelises, who is departing after a decade at the helm of the 76,362-student school district.

In Philadelphia, Dawson focused on improving student and teacher attendance and dropout rates. He previously held posts in school districts in Birmingham, Houston, Florida’s Duval County, and Georgia’s Fulton County after beginning his career as a teacher and principal in Atlanta.

Dawson, deputy superintendent of academic services for the School District of Philadelphia, is a graduate of the inaugural cohort of the Council of the Great City Schools’ Michael Casserly Urban Executive Leadership Institute for Superintendents. Since launching in 2023, seven graduates have gone on to serve as superintendents in Council member districts.

Baltimore School Board Chair Robert Salley hailed Dawson as “an accomplished education leader.”

“He’s enthusiastic. He’s exuberant,” Salley said, according to the Baltimore Banner news website. “He possesses a sense of possibility that I think is really critically important for leaders of urban systems.”

Dawson has described a bleak childhood, growing up poor, homeless, and eating out of trash cans. “This is a ministry for me: To ensure that every single child in City Schools is afforded the same opportunities that I’ve been given,” Dawson said, according to the Banner.

Salley also praised Santelises, saying, “Under the leadership of Dr. Santelises, we have made historic progress: building new, 21st century schools, improving attendance, and expanding opportunity for our students.”

Elsewhere, interim chiefs are having a moment, gaining the permanent superintendencies in Chicago, Memphis, and St. Louis.

Macquline King has been tapped to run Chicago Public Schools after a year as interim superintendent. In a news release, the district cited her work advancing a $10 billion budget as well as maintaining stability “amid increased external immigration enforcement activity, and prioritiz[ing] students’ academic opportunities, safety, and well-being.”

King’s selection “delivers on our commitment to put in place a leader who understands the complexity of CPS, is ready to embrace the challenges, and will create opportunities that move the District forward,” said Board President Sean B. Harden.

A graduate of Chicago Public Schools, King built her career in Chicago, first as a teacher, then principal, and later as senior director of education policy in the mayor’s office. The school district enrollment is about 316,000, making it the third-largest school system in the nation. 

Longtime Memphis educator Roderick Richmond, most recently interim chief, has been named to lead Memphis-Shelby County Schools, which enrolls approximately 105,000 students. 

“In a city where legacy, leadership, and lived experience matter deeply, Dr. Roderick Richmond’s education journey beautifully reflects the story of Memphis. As someone who has dedicated his career to the city’s classrooms, Dr. Richmond represents the power of investing in homegrown leadership,” the district said in a news release. 

Among other assignments, Richmond played a key role in the historic 2013 merger of Shelby County and city schools. He also helped guide Booker T. Washington High School to national recognition as it won the 2011 Race to the Top Commencement Challenge. That achievement drew then President Barack Obama, who delivered the commencement address at the school that year.

In St. Louis, interim leader Myra Michelle Berry has been named superintendent.

Board President Karen Collins-Adams said in a news release that Berry “has already shown us what strong, responsive leadership looks like in action. She understands this district, she understands our community, and she has delivered results during one of the most complex periods in recent history.”

The district said in a news release that as interim superintendent of the 15,000-student school system, Berry helped “stabilize key areas of district operations while maintaining a clear focus on student outcomes.” Berry led efforts to reopen schools in the wake of a devastating tornado in May 2025 and has improved transportation reliability. 

Interim Leader Named in Sacramento

California’s Sacramento City Unified School District named Cancy McArn as acting leader of the 41,868-student school district. 

McArn has served as the district’s chief human resources since 2013. She succeeds Lisa Allen, who recently resigned after leading the district since 2023.