Baker Selects New CEO for Prince George's Schools

The Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) has a new CEO in Bowie resident Dr. Kevin Maxwell, the current superintendent of the Anne Arundel County Public School system, according to multiple reports. 

The Washington Post, NBC4 and The Capital Gazette have reported that County Executive Rushern Baker, who has the authority to select a new CEO from among three candidates selected by a special search committee, will be announcing Maxwell as the new head of the county school system at a press conference on Friday. 

In a brief email to Patch, Baker's spokesperson Scott Peterson said that the "administration is not confirming" the selection at this time. 

Earlier this week, three finalists for the position were recommended to Baker by the three-person PGCPS CEO search committee, but their names were kept confidential as part of the hiring process. 

The search committee considered 50 applicants, according to a statement issued from the county executive's office on Monday. 

The county held a series of town hall listening sessions, which were hosted by the search committee, to gather feedback on desired qualities sought in the next head of the Prince George's public school system. After those sessions, search committee chair Dr. Charlene Dukes said that "longevity and stability" were some of the top concerns county residents and school system faculty and staff were looking for out of the CEO. 

Prince George's County Public Schools have had six superintendents over the last 10 years. The reform law, signed earlier this year, gave the county executive greater control over the school system's administration and school board. Baker's office changed the name of the county school's top administrative position from superintendent to CEO. 

Maxwell has held his current superintendent post in Anne Arundel County for six years. According to a biography of Maxwell posted on the Anne Arundel County Public Schools website, he spent 22 years working for PGCPS—first as a teacher, then a principal and then as Chief Educational Administrator. 

He also spent four years as the principal of Bethesda's Walter Johnson High School. 

Between 2004 and 2006, Maxwell was one of six community superintendents with Montgomery County Public Schools. He was in charge of five school clusters encompassing 38 high schools, middle schools and elementary schools. 

Since 2006, Maxwell has worked as the superintendent of the Anne Arundel school system. 

Maxwell is also a product of the Prince George's County school system, graduating from Bladensburg High School in 1969. He went on to earn a bachelor of science in 1977 and masters degree in 1980 from the University of Maryland's education department. In 2002, Maxwell earned a PHD in language literacy and culture from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.