As part of a recent media tour, Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph sat down with The AFRO-American Newspapers to share his reflections, priorities and path forward in the first 100 days of leadership.
“I saw this as a moment in Prince George’s County where all of the powers that be are aligned and willing and committed to working together,” Dr. Joseph said. “To be a part of that team at this moment was an opportunity I just couldn’t deny.”
Since his appointment as Interim Superintendent in June, Dr. Joseph has launched a 100-Day Plan focused on six key areas:
Each area is designed to strengthen systems and drive meaningful progress for students and staff across the district.
A few highlights from the full interview:
Raising the Bar for Academic Growth
Dr. Joseph underscored the importance of academic clarity and transparency to ensure students are growing and thriving.
“We have to get clear about our academics and whether our students are making adequate growth. Being clear about where students are helps us target resources.”
He also highlighted student achievement trends that often go unrecognized.
“In Prince George’s County, it’s a fact that African-American children perform better than Black children across the state and across the nation in many academic areas. But that story doesn’t really get out.”
Investing in People and Partnerships
A central theme in the conversation was equity in compensation and staffing.
“It goes beyond teachers for me. It includes food service workers, bus drivers, building service workers and secretaries. We must be competitive in all of those domains.”
He also called for stronger engagement between families and schools.
“I think the secret ingredient is parents actively being partners with the district… We can’t do it alone.”
Readiness for the School Year
With more than 200 schools and one of the largest transportation systems in the country, Dr. Joseph noted the importance of operational readiness.
“We must ensure that our more than 1,000 bus drivers are ready to go, and that our buildings are safe and clean.”
Looking Ahead
Dr. Joseph views the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future as a bold opportunity to reimagine public education.
“The Blueprint is an opportunity to be creative, dream big for our kids and put resources in the right place to accelerate outcomes.”
View Dr. Joseph's 100-Day Plan and attend an upcoming virtual listening session.
