From the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce
In advance of the Montgomery Public Schools Town Hall Meeting this evening, the Montgomery Chamber issues the following statement:
Moving Forward. Together.
Choosing our next superintendent, the most important issue facing MPS
The future of Montgomery Public Schools (MPS) is important not only to the 28,000 students and 4,000 employees that call the system home, but to the businesses – both present and future – that count on a skilled and adequately trained workforce. The future of our public schools is critical to Montgomery’s ability to recruit and retain talent, preserve, and grow our military missions, and make this a community of choice for families and future investment. Most importantly, our public schools should be the path to a bright future for all of our children and our community. That’s why the Montgomery Chamber has followed changes in the school system closely and helped champion the November 2020 “Yes Vote” that brought much-needed investments to our schools.
While the system has made important strides, there is still critical work to be done, and none is more critical than the selection of our next superintendent. Dr. Ann Roy Moore has announced she is retiring at the end of this school year after admirable service to the system, and a search for new superintendent will be conducted. This is a major milestone that can determine the future of MPS. That decision deserves input from a variety of voices, including community and business leaders, and merits a comprehensive search that will result in the best and brightest leaders being considered for the position.
As we move forward with the search, we must not forget how far we’ve come. Dr. Moore and the Board have led our school system through a tumultuous time, and we are deeply grateful. Her shepherding of our district out of intervention, as of December 2021, is why Montgomery Public Schools are now poised for a bold new direction.
The people of Montgomery have spoken clearly — they expect more out of their schools and are willing to invest in the future of our kids.
The Chamber wholeheartedly shares that expectation. It’s time to carefully select the leader who will guide MPS into the future. We encourage the Montgomery County Board of Education to begin acting immediately, with the input of the public, to identify Dr. Moore’s replacement as superintendent. The Chamber stands ready to help and support in any way.
We look forward to moving forward. Together.
