Mission accomplished: Dr. Sonia Santelises concludes a decade of service to Baltimore City Public Schools

By Dr. Deborah Bailey

AFRO Contributing Editor

June 30 arrived for Dr. Sonia Brookins Santelises as the final day of her 10-year tenure as chief executive officer (CEO) of Baltimore City Public Schools.

For the past decade, Dr. Santelises’ mission has been to ensure that Baltimore’s 76,362 public school students soar. 

Her commitment to Baltimore began in 2010 when she joined the school system as chief academic officer, a role she held from 2010 to 2013. Santelises was appointed chief executive officer of Baltimore Public Schools in 2016.

She stepped into what was once a financially troubled school system. In her first year as CEO, she navigated a massive budget shortfall, which resulted in the layoff of 1,000 people. Her predecessor had been fired, leaving parents, students and city residents deeply concerned about the future of public education in the area.

Santelises remained in Baltimore, raising her children in the city with her husband and becoming an integral part of the city’s core. 

“We’ve raised our girls here,” Santelises told the AFRO, of her time in Charm City. “Our girls are proud to be Baltimoreans–Baltimore is home. Baltimore has really provided a rich history that our daughters and my husband and I have benefitted from.”

After her time in the city, Santelises says her ties to Baltimore aren’t shallow.

“The sense of history is deep. My girls, husband and I love the neighborhoods, the close knit community,” said Santelises. “Everybody knows somebody and is connected somehow. That sense of history, connection and scrapiness. My girls see the way the mayor fights for the city, the way our current governor fights for the city.”

Even when many counted out the city’s young people, Santelises has consistently celebrated the extraordinary talents of Baltimore’s youth. 

“We have some of the most brilliant young people anywhere. They deserve the full community rallying for them to be prepared to have a thriving life,” said Santelises. 

Building a strong foundation – a decade of process

The school system Santelises took charge of 10 years ago was hurting– and so was the city. 

Baltimore was still dealing with the aftermath of the 2015 death of Freddie Gray. The relationship between residents and law enforcement was a raw, open wound. 

Santelises was charged with advocating for her students and seeking the resources to meet their needs in the midst of a city in turmoil. Still, she moved with purpose, stabilized instruction, gave students reasons to come to school and reached out to form strong partnerships to support children and youth across the city.

“For 10 years as CEO, Dr. Santelises has fought to give every young person in Baltimore the opportunities and support they need to reach their full potential,” said Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “A generation of young Baltimoreans have benefitted—and will continue to benefit—from her service and advocacy, and I am personally grateful to have had such a strong partner helping to shape the future of our schools.”

Santelises has built a cohesive team she is proud to leave in place, updated the curriculum, creating a platform that is starting to yield more comprehensive English state test scores. She has lobbied for funding to renovate and severely replace aging infrastructure and school funding on a state level that revolutionized state funding for low-wealth students. 

The greatest challenge: COVID-19 and the aftermath 

One of the many challenges Santelises navigated as CEO was the COVID-19 crisis. 

Its aftermath reshaped her perspective on school leadership and students’ needs. Santelises and her staff have worked to improve learning, with students making gains in 2025 state reading test scores. She put new curriculum and support with tutoring in place with the hope of gaining ground in state math scores, which continue to hover at the bottom of state rankings according to the Maryland Report Card. 

Santelises and her board believe community institutions need to step up and partner in even greater ways now. 

“The needs are greater,” said Santelises,  about post-pandemic life for many of Baltimore’s students and families. “When people are worried about survival, things like learning algebra and calculus feel a lot more like a luxury than a necessity.” 

Stronger together with “grit” – a legacy for Baltimore City public students and her family

Santelises is formally handing over the reins to Dr. Jermaine Dawson, who begins his first day on the job on July 1.  Santelises and Robert Salley, chair of the Baltimore City Public Schools Board, are happy for a transition period where both leaders can connect and move forward on a united front.  

“We really are on the cusp of a renaissance in Baltimore City. We need to continue the moment,” Santelises said, in reference to connecting with partners like UnderArmour, The Mayor’s Office and community organizations to ensure all children have safe places to learn and discover whether they are in the classroom or out.”

Santelises will continue her role as Superintendent in Residence with the Yale School of Management, which started in Fall 2025. She has not signed on to other commitments yet, but will determine what fits with her life after she has taken a break from 10 years at the helm in Baltimore City Public Schools. 

A legacy of tenacity and perseverance 

As she prepares to hand off the challenges of tomorrow’s Baltimore public school students to her successor, Salley summed up Santelises’ tenure with three words: grit, tenacity and perseverance.

“She’s created a wonderful legacy not only for herself, but for the city of Baltimore. She has made sure the narrative around city schools and around our children is about what’s possible, especially for predominantly Black and Brown children and all of our children in City Schools,” said Salley. “Our young people deserve a world-class education and facilities. Her legacy is built upon advocacy, strategy, partnership and collaboration. Those are the things you need to move a system forward.”

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