The Montgomery County Board of Education tonight named Dr. Joshua P. Starr, head of public schools in Stamford, Conn., as the new superintendent of the county’s public schools.
The board voted unanimously to appoint Starr, who currently heads a school district with enrollment of more than 15,000 students and 20 schools. MCPS’s enrollment is about 144,000 students.
His appointment is contingent upon final negotiation of an employment agreement and the written approval of Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Nancy Grasmick.
Starr will replace Superintendent Jerry Weast, who will retire June 30 after 12 years as head of MCPS. He was chosen from three finalists, who were selected from a field of 30 candidates generated through a national search.
In explaining the board’s selection, school board Chairman Christopher Barclay said board members were looking for a candidate who could continue the progress that MCPS has made under Dr. Weast’s leadership.
“We have a good thing here in Montgomery County,” Barclay said. “We were not looking for candidates who were looking to change direction. We were looking for candidates to take us to the next level, to take what is good and great and make it even better."
He described Starr as “a passionate champion for all students” who is “deeply committed to openness and eager to work collaboratively in the best interests of all students.”
Board member Shirley Brandman described Starr as "a lifelong learner.”
Barclay said that prior to Starr taking over July 1, there will be several public meetings where parents, residents and community and business members can meet him.
A former teacher, Starr has served as superintendent of Stamford schools since 2005. Previously, he was the director of school performance and accountability for the New York City Department of Education. In that post, he “helped design a comprehensive approach to measuring school performance throughout the New York City public schools,” according to the Stamford Public Schools website.
Starr also served as deputy senior instructional manager in the New York City Department of Education, Office of Programs, “where he developed new reforms related to curriculum and instruction for Early Childhood Education, English Language Learners, Special Education, Gifted and Talented, and Instructional Technology,” according to the Stamford website.
Starr, who is married and has three young children, holds both a master’s and doctorate in education administration, planning and social policy from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education.
