The Baltimore County Public Schools Board of Education announced Myriam Yarbrough as the next superintendent.
Dr. Myriam Yarbrough was announced as the next superintendent of the Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) system on May 16. Dr. Yarbrough currently serves as BCPS deputy superintendent and was the only superintendent finalist who works in the BCPS system. Her appointment is “contingent upon final contract negotiations for employment and approval by state superintendent Mohammed Choudhury as required by Maryland law.”
Dr. Yarbrough became the deputy superintendent in December 2021 after joining BCPS in 2020. Her ties to BCPS are extensive: previously, she was the chief of BCPS’ Division of Organizational Effectiveness, the executive director of secondary schools in the west zone, and the director of school performance.
Dr. Yarbrough was selected following a nationwide search facilitated by McPherson and Jacobson, LLC, incorporating input from hundreds of BCPS staff, parents, students, and other stakeholders. A BCPS press release outlined her professional path and qualifications to lead the school system:
Dr. Yarbrough, who began her educational career as a chemistry teacher in Baltimore County Public Schools in 1996, currently serves as Deputy Superintendent. In this capacity, she plans, coordinates, and administers all professional learning activities, functions, and programs of BCPS and provides leadership and collaboration with and among all offices to ensure that resources and supports are prioritized to meet individual school needs. Dr. Yarbrough ensures that systemwide goals, strategies, initiatives, and priorities identified in the school system’s strategic plan, The Compass, are implemented. Dr. Yarbrough returned to BCPS in 2020. Prior to her role as Deputy Superintendent, she served as BCPS’ Chief of Organizational Effectiveness, Executive Director for Secondary Schools in the West Zone, and Director of School Performance. Dr. Yarbrough has been in educational administration since 2002 and served as a principal of Francis Scott Key Middle School and Paint Branch High School in Montgomery County, Maryland. She is the recipient of several system, state and national awards and citations and is highly regarded for her development of educational policy strategic initiatives to improve academic performance and operational efficiency.
Dr. Yarbrough earned her bachelor of science and master of arts degrees from Bowie State University. She holds a doctoral degree in educational leadership from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Dr. Yarbrough was selected following a nationwide search facilitated by McPherson and Jacobson, LLC, incorporating input from hundreds of BCPS staff, parents, students, and other stakeholders.
A series of public meetings will be scheduled in the near future for the community to meet Dr. Yarbrough prior to her assuming the job as superintendent on July 1, 2023. The meetings will offer Dr. Yarbrough the opportunity to connect with parents, business, education, civic and community leaders, and the community at large and learn about their ideas and hopes for BCPS.
The Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM) celebrated her appointment online.
