County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy Nominates Dr. Shawn Joseph to Serve as Superintendent of Prince George's County Public Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Monday, June 1, 2026

Media Contact

Thomas F. Johnson II 

Director of Communications
Office of the County Executive
Prince George's County, Maryland
cexcomms@co.pg.md.us

County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy Nominates Dr. Shawn Joseph to Serve as Superintendent of Prince George's County Public Schools

Largo, Md—On Monday, June 1, Prince George’s County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy announced the nomination of Dr. Shawn Joseph to serve as Superintendent of Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS), following a comprehensive national search conducted pursuant to Maryland Education Article § 4-201.1. Dr. Joseph, who has served as Interim Superintendent since July 2025, will now be considered by the Prince George’s County Board of Education for permanent appointment as leader of Maryland’s second-largest public school system.

"This is the right leadership at the right time for Prince George's County Public Schools," said County Executive Braveboy. "Over the last year, Dr. Joseph has demonstrated strong leadership, sound financial stewardship, a commitment to transparency, and an unwavering focus on improving outcomes for students. He has brought stability during a critical period, strengthened relationships with educators and employees, expanded opportunities for students, and positioned our school system to continue moving forward. I am confident that his experience, vision, and commitment to excellence make him the right choice to serve as Superintendent of Prince George's County Public Schools."

The nomination follows a State-mandated superintendent search process that included a national recruitment effort, candidate evaluations, stakeholder engagement, school visits, and public input from more than 4,200 residents, parents, students, educators, labor representatives, faith leaders, and community stakeholders.

Under Maryland Education Article § 4-201.1, the Superintendent Search Committee conducted a nationwide search and submitted three finalists to the County Executive for consideration. Following interviews, community engagement sessions, school visits, and candidate evaluations, County Executive Braveboy selected Dr. Joseph as her nominee.

As part of the final phase of the search process, all three finalists visited Bowie High School, Ellen Ochoa Middle School, and Capitol Heights Elementary School, where they engaged directly with students, educators, school leaders, parents, and community stakeholders. The candidates also participated in formal interview panels designed to assess their leadership philosophy, academic priorities, operational expertise, and vision for Prince George's County Public Schools.

Community evaluation panels ranked Dr. Joseph as the strongest candidate in the process. Panelists consistently described him as thoughtful, highly qualified, strategic, and deeply knowledgeable about the opportunities and challenges facing the school system. He received multiple "Strongly Recommend" ratings and was praised for his executive leadership experience, collaborative approach, and commitment to student success.

The nomination comes nearly one year after County Executive Braveboy selected Dr. Joseph to serve as Interim Superintendent.

"Before I was sworn in as County Executive, one of my first actions was appointing Dr. Joseph as Interim Superintendent during a critical period for our school system," Braveboy said. "At the time, the district was facing significant challenges, including a labor impasse involving contract negotiations with our teachers' union. Within days of assuming leadership, Dr. Joseph brought stakeholders together and helped resolve that matter successfully. That early success demonstrated his ability to lead, unite people, and deliver results."

Since assuming leadership of the district, Dr. Joseph has focused on strengthening academic outcomes, stabilizing operations, and rebuilding trust across the school community. He launched a comprehensive 100-Day Entry Plan centered on academics, operations, accountability, and stakeholder engagement. Through more than 20 listening sessions, budget town halls, and community conversations, he ensured that families, students, staff, and residents had a direct voice in shaping district priorities and future planning.

Working alongside stakeholders, Dr. Joseph established five district priorities focused on literacy and mathematics achievement, student attendance and engagement, organizational development, college and career readiness, and expanded support for special education and multilingual learners.

During the 2025–2026 school year, Prince George's County Public Schools reported significant progress across multiple performance areas under Dr. Joseph's leadership.

Among the accomplishments achieved during his tenure:

• Teacher vacancies declined by 52 percent, including substantial reductions in special education vacancies.
• Three union contracts were successfully negotiated through a collaborative bargaining process, strengthening relationships with educators and employees.
• The district addressed a significant structural budget deficit while protecting classroom instruction and avoiding teacher layoffs.
• A districtwide immunization compliance initiative reduced noncompliance cases dramatically and restored nearly $20 million in State funding.
• New public dashboards were launched to provide families with transparent access to student achievement, attendance, graduation, and staffing data.
• Tuition-free Dual Enrollment opportunities were expanded to all high schools through partnerships with Prince George's Community College and the County Government.
• A partnership with Bowie State University resulted in more than 600 scholarships totaling approximately $1.6 million for students.
• The district earned national recognition for school modernization efforts and achieved a record number of Maryland Green Schools certifications.
• Transportation staffing improvements increased bus driver staffing levels to approximately 96 percent and included the launch of a real-time bus tracking application for families.
• The Innovation & Performance Area was established to provide targeted support and resources to schools identified for accelerated improvement.

In addition, Dr. Joseph delivered the district's first State of the Schools Address in more than a decade, bringing together educators, families, students, business leaders, elected officials, and community partners to align around a shared vision for the future of Prince George's County Public Schools.

"Every child in every ZIP code deserves a transformative education, and here in Prince George's County, the work of accelerating student progress and strengthening outcomes is already well underway," said Dr. Joseph. "I am honored by this nomination and grateful for the opportunity to continue serving our students, families, employees, and community. Together, we will build upon the momentum we have established and continue creating pathways for success for every child in Prince George's County."

Next Steps

Pursuant to Maryland Education Article § 4-201.1, the County Executive's nomination will now be transmitted to the Prince George's County Board of Education.

The Board of Education will review the nomination, negotiate the terms of an employment agreement, and consider formal action regarding Dr. Joseph's appointment as Superintendent of Prince George's County Public Schools. Upon approval by the Board of Education and approval of appointment by the State Superintendent, Dr. Joseph will formally assume the position as Superintendent and lead implementation of the district's new strategic plan, "Forward by Design: Acceleration 2029," focused on student achievement, workforce development, expanded educational opportunities, family partnerships, and organizational excellence.

"The future of Prince George's County is directly tied to the success of our students," County Executive Braveboy added. "I look forward to continuing our partnership with the Board of Education and Dr. Joseph as we work together to elevate student achievement, strengthen our schools, and ensure every child has access to a world-class education."

About Dr. Shawn Joseph

Dr. Shawn Joseph is a nationally recognized educator, author, and school system leader with more than three decades of experience in public education. Throughout his career, he has served as a teacher, principal, district administrator, and superintendent, leading school systems at both the local and state levels. Prior to joining Prince George’s County Public Schools, Dr. Joseph served as Superintendent of the Metro Nashville Public Schools in Tennessee and Superintendent of the Seaford School District in Delaware, where he developed a reputation for improving student achievement, strengthening organizational culture, and building collaborative relationships among educators, families, labor partners, and community stakeholders. 

He currently serves as an Associate Professor at Howard University and Co-Director of the AASA/Howard University Urban Superintendents Academy, helping prepare the next generation of educational leaders. Dr. Joseph is also the author of The Principal’s Guide to the First 100 Days and is widely respected for his expertise in educational leadership, organizational improvement, equity, and student success. 

He earned a Doctorate in Educational Administration and Policy Studies from George Washington University, a Master’s Degree in Reading Education from Johns Hopkins University, and a bachelor’s degree in English education from Lincoln University, the nation’s first degree-granting Historically Black College and University. Throughout his career, Dr. Joseph has remained committed to the belief that every child, regardless of background or circumstance, deserves access to a high-quality education and the opportunity to reach their full potential.

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