Baltimore County schools chief talks about leaving

Darryl Williams: ‘I will still be around. I have work to do’

Baltimore County Public Schools superintendent will not seek new contract

Updated: 5:12 PM EST Jan 24, 2023

Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Darryl Williams spoke exclusively Tuesday afternoon with 11 News, a day after announcing he will not seek a new contract.In a statement released late Monday afternoon, Williams said his decision to move on came after much deliberation and conversation with his family. Williams told 11 News on Tuesday afternoon that family was the primary reason for moving on.”The family has been with me on this ride since day one, and so, like I shared, it was a family decision, and then, in turn, this decision, I met with my family and we talked about what might be the next chapter in my life, and so they supported this decision,” Williams said.He also talked about a few of his accomplishments and the well-publicized ransomware attack on the district’s computer network.”When you read the report, our partners, the FBI made it clear we couldn’t share any information. That’s their work. We’re educators. They deal with situations like this. My goal, when we realized what happened, I believe it was that Wednesday right before Thanksgiving break, we were working throughout the break and the weekend,” Williams said.Williams told 11 News about the highs and the lows of the job, and why he’s leaving Baltimore County.”So, these things I am hearing about who I am, it really doesn’t describe me, and I wonder why are they saying that? Do they really know Darryl Williams? But again, I will go back, I want you to name a superintendent that came to a system with a hybrid board, dealt with a pandemic, dealt with a cyberattack and a climate in which folks describe as somewhat fearful about really doing anything, speaking up. I want you to name a superintendent who has done that,” Williams said. “If you notice, more and more supporters have been coming out, speaking truth, stating facts, and when I look at it, I see more supporters than critics because folk know the truth.”When reflecting on accomplishments he’s most proud of, Williams told 11 News: “Our focus on teaching and learning and what does that look like for our classroom teachers, for our administrators? We looked at safety and supportive environments, bringing in safety assistants because our (school resource officers), although we had additional SROs, they could not do it all, and our principals could not do it all.”Williams, who was appointed in 2019, called his time in Baltimore County an honor, saying he’s proud of the work he and the BCPS team have accomplished despite many challenges the system faced. His current contract was set to expire this summer.”I am still in the community. Remember, I had to move into the community, and so I am invested in the well-being of our students. So, the work may look differently. Obviously, I want be in this position. I will still be around. I have work to do. My wife, Shelly, and I have stories to tell because folk need to know what we have dealt with as a couple, what I have dealt with as a superintendent,” Williams said.The search for Williams replacement will get underway soon. Jane Lichter, the recently elected president of the Board of Education, said there will be a national search for Williams’ replacement. She’s not sure how soon that will begin.”If we are not able through a search to find a candidate we feel best meets our needs and has the skillset to lead our system, then we would need to look for an interim at that point. But again, this is pretty premature since we haven’t had a chance to meet yet,” Lichter said.Already, groups like the Teachers Association of Baltimore County are asking to be part of the search for the next school superintendent.”We would hope that the union would play a role in looking for that superintendent because we represent 9,000 educators. We know what our educators need, and we, the educators, know what our students need. So, we would like to be a part of that process as it goes forward,” said Cindy Sexton, president of TABCO.The Baltimore County Board of Education is scheduled to meet Tuesday night. There’s no word whether Williams’ announcement to leave will be a part of the agenda. Superintendent’s full statement: ‘It has been an honor to serve’The superintendent released a statement late Monday afternoon, saying: “After much deliberation and conversation with my family, I have decided to not seek an additional four-year contract.”It has been an honor to serve as superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools, and I thank the Board of Education of Baltimore County for the opportunity to lead this incredible system.”I am very proud of the work we have done together to raise the bar, close gaps and prepare our students to thrive in their future, despite the many challenges our system has faced. I am very grateful for Team BCPS teachers and staff who strive to provide our students with a world-class education; for our students whose unique lived experiences inspire and encourage me; and for our families and communities that partner with us to ensure our students can meet their highest potential.”I am proud of our school administrators who continue to lead their schools as instructional leaders and work diligently to address the academic and social-emotional needs of our students. I deeply appreciate the efforts of our support staff who are often the first and last faces our students see and work behind the scenes to create optimal environments for teaching and learning. There is more work to be done, but I believe that BCPS is well-poised to make progress toward eliminating disparities in academic achievement and will advance equity and excellence for all students.”