100 signatures reached
To: Prince George's County Parents and Community
Call for State Oversight: Pause the Interim Appointment of Dr. Shawn Joseph for PGCPS Superintendent
We, the undersigned residents, and taxpayers of Prince George’s County, respectfully urge Dr. Carey M. Wright, State Superintendent of Schools, to withhold approval of the appointment of Dr. Shawn Joseph as Interim Superintendent of Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS).
Under Maryland Education Code § 4-201.1, the selection and appointment of an interim superintendent must follow a defined legal process that includes selecting from a list of three qualified finalists for consideration. That process is in place to preserve the integrity, transparency, and accountability of educational leadership decisions affecting hundreds of thousands of students and families. As outlined in Maryland law, the superintendent selection process is intentionally structured to include independent screening, a shortlist of finalists, and state-level oversight to ensure appointments are based on qualifications and merit—shielding the process from undue political influence.
The recent action by the Prince George’s County Board of Education to force Millard House II to resign his position in violation of Board Policy 4135—a rule designed to maintain a strict separation between governance and advocacy, reinforcing the Board’s role as a neutral arbiter and ensuring that public education resources are not used for political purposes—followed by the announcement by the County Executive-Elect — to install Dr. Joseph as the interim superintendent appears to have bypassed these required procedures, specifically:
1. Superintendent Millard House II served officially on Thursday, June 12, 2025.
2. On June 13, 2025, less than 24 hours after the announcement that Superintendent Millard House II would resign, County Executive-Elect Aisha Braveboy publicly announced the appointment of Dr. Shawn Joseph as the interim superintendent.
3. During the press conference, County Executive-Elect Aisha Braveboy stated that she had met with Board members several weeks earlier, which could potentially expose PGCPS to legal liability for violating Mr. House’s privacy rights.
4. The announcement occurred before the Executive-Elect’s swearing-in and during the tenure of the current Acting County Executive, Tara Jackson, who retains lawful authority to fill any vacancy for the superintendent.
5. Dr. Joseph has a history that raises significant concerns:
- His contract with the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools in Tennessee was terminated due to findings of misconduct, which included dishonesty to the board and unethical procurement practices in 2019.
- He runs a company registered in Maryland that is not in good standing with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation.
- Dr. Joseph's prior license issue and surrender in Tennessee raise legitimate concerns about his compliance with statutory reporting and certification requirements.
- Dr. Joseph previously served as a superintendent in Delaware (2012-2015) and Tennessee (2016-2019). He has not served in a superintendent role since 2019, and no information has been shared with the public that Dr. Joseph possesses the Maryland State Superintendent certification under the Code of Maryland Regulations 13A.12.05.04.
- He is affiliated with Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA), the firm selected by the State Board of Education to conduct superintendent searches, which presents a direct conflict of interest.
6. Maryland law mandates that superintendent appointments be made from a list of qualified candidates, following State Board of Education regulations and procedures to guarantee fairness and transparency. During her press conference, the County Executive-Elect asserted that “her team,” which had not been revealed to the public, performed the search for the interim superintendent.
7. The selection process for the County Elect appears to have circumvented the procedural safeguards outlined in MD Education Code § 4-201.1, which states that the selection should be made from a list of three nominees recommended by a search committee consisting of one member appointed by the State Superintendent and two residents appointed by the Governor. The public was not made aware of a list of candidates, and there is no clear evidence that any candidates, aside from Dr. Joseph, were assessed based on established criteria.
8. Most current Board members have served in office for less than six months. They are unlikely to have completed the professional development required under MD Education Code §3-1004, which raises questions about the Board’s readiness to make a legally sound appointment, especially given that PGCPS has reached an 80% graduation rate, short of the 87% achieved in Maryland in 2017.
9. The Board is scheduled to approve the FY25 budget on June 26 but has not revealed the financial terms of the House’s separation, raising significant fiduciary and transparency concerns.
10. These statutes and regulations strongly support the Petitioners’ concern that:
- The Board’s process must adhere to the listed criteria and nominations.
- Professional development is a prerequisite to effective and lawful decision-making.
- Interim leadership is legally permitted pending a lawful appointment.
Why is this important?
In the words of former Board Chair Dr. Alvin Thornton, writing in 2021 op-ed:
“Our community, its children, and the School System deserve a Board that governs collegially, professionally, ethically, transparently, and in a student-centered manner. Anything less is unacceptable and should not be tolerated.”
“The politicization of the Board of Education is now on steroids and out of control with little discernible connection to the best interest of our children. It must end.”
That warning has become reality. A rushed appointment, backroom coordination with an officer-elect, and exclusion of community voice call for urgent State intervention to restore integrity and protect the 133,000 students of Prince George’s County Public Schools.
As such, we respectfully assert that the Board’s action is arbitrary, unreasonable, and contrary to law, and approval of the appointment under these circumstances would undermine public confidence in the State’s educational oversight framework.
As such, we respectfully assert that the Board’s action is arbitrary, unreasonable, and contrary to law, and approval of the appointment under these circumstances would undermine public confidence in the State’s educational oversight framework.
We humbly petition Dr. Carey M. Wright, State Superintendent of Schools:
- Decline to approve the appointment of Dr. Joseph until the entire search process outlined in § 4-201.1 is completed in good faith and compliance with applicable regulations.
- That the Board is barred from terminating the employment of any senior staff members during the interim period.
- Provide oversight and guidance to the County Board to ensure that future selections are conducted with transparency, fairness, and legal integrity.
- Initiate a formal investigation into the legality and procedural integrity of the Board of Education's recent decisions.