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Dr. Sean Joseph, introduced as Prince George's County superintendent-in-waiting, cites staffing gains and focus on accelerating student learning
Summary
Dr. Sean Joseph, introduced on air as the district's new superintendent-in-waiting, said the past year was a "stabilization" period with a 52% reduction in vacancies, fewer than 30 bus vacancies and $729 million in scholarships; he prioritized summer work to accelerate reading and math through job-embedded teacher development and stronger family engagement.
Dr. Sean Joseph, introduced on air as Prince George's County Public Schools' new superintendent-in-waiting, said the past school year was a "stabilization year" in which the district addressed staffing, transportation and budget problems and prepared to press academic gains.
"We reduced the vacancies by 52%. We reduced our bus vacancies down to less than 30. We had $729 million in scholarships given to students in all schools," Dr. Joseph said, adding that "those are verifiable numbers." He said the district's next steps this summer will focus on accelerating student performance, particularly in reading and mathematics.
Why it matters: Prince George's County enrolls a large share of the state's African-American and Latino students. Dr. Joseph told the program that, while those groups often fare better than peers in other districts, overall district performance is not where leaders want it to be. He said the district's strategy will center on job-embedded professional development — real-time support for teachers in schools — and more responsive family engagement so parents "feel like we see them, we hear them, we respond to them."
On classroom practice, Joseph described student progress as the product of both strong in-class instruction and out-of-class opportunities. "Families have a huge role ... getting them out to the museums ... to the arts," he said, and added that high-quality feedback to students is essential: "The quality of anybody's performance is based upon the feedback that they get."
Joseph also spoke about his personal path to education leadership. He described being the first in his family to graduate high school and recounted academic and professional stops including Lincoln University, Johns Hopkins, George Washington University and a professorship at Howard University, as well as prior district roles in Montgomery County, Prince George's County, Nashville and Delaware. He urged students to "find a mentor" and to use role models to expand what they believe possible.
The interview ended with the hosts congratulating Joseph and wishing him well for the summer as he prepares implementation details for next school year. No formal district actions or vote outcomes were announced during the conversation.
Sources: Comments and figures were provided on the record by Dr. Sean Joseph during the interview.
