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Consultants present superintendent search findings after 2,500+ responses; board to finalize leadership profile
Summary
BWP & Associates reported more than 2,500 community responses—including about 1,400 student surveys—and proposed a leadership profile emphasizing instructional expertise, communication, strategic planning and community engagement. The board will review a draft profile ahead of a Nov. 22 application deadline and interviews scheduled for late November.
Consultants from BWP & Associates presented findings from two days of community engagement and a 2,500‑response survey as part of Montgomery County Public Schools’ superintendent search.
BWP said the engagement included 30 stakeholder meetings and four public forums at the district’s high schools. The consultants said the largest single respondent group was students—about 1,400 responses—and stressed that student input influenced key findings. “Students feel safe in your schools,” one consultant summarized when describing recurring themes across panels and the survey.
The report identified three top strengths cited widely: quality of teachers and staff, a range of educational options and programs (including CTE and AP), and strong community partnerships with higher education and employers. Top concerns included student mental health, staffing and compensation (notably operational vacancies and principal turnover), aging facilities, inequities revealed in discipline and achievement gaps, and uneven internet access for some families.
From those data the consultants proposed a leadership profile built around four categories: visionary instructional leader, collaborative manager, effective communicator and strong personal qualities (integrity, fairness and courage). The draft leadership profile emphasizes classroom experience, demonstrated success with instruction and strategic planning, and experience working in multicultural communities.
BWP urged the board to finalize the leadership profile quickly so applicants can evaluate fit: the consultants noted an application deadline of Nov. 22 and recommended the board schedule interviews the week of Nov. 30 with an aim to negotiate by mid‑December. Board members discussed timing, suggested edits, and asked for a shareable editable document so they could propose revisions and then consolidate comments at a short special meeting.
Board chair Mr. Hudson said the district will post an edited profile once the board reaches consensus. The consultants said they would present a pared summary of results for publication and leave the appendices and raw comments in the public report for transparency. The board agreed to review the draft and return consolidated edits to staff ahead of the application posting.
