After making organizational changes this summer, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is “reshaping its leadership structure” and hiring for eight executive positions, according to job postings and MCPS spokesperson Chris Cram.
MCPS announced the open positions on social media Monday. The posts include the chiefs of school leadership, talent management, student support, equity and development, technology, academics, and operations. The district also listed the post of general counsel, or the head of the district’s in-house legal team, as an open position.
The annual salary for each of the eight positions is $249,322, according to the job postings.
In June, prior to the start of Superintendent Thomas Taylor’s tenure on July 1, the district made organizational shifts after the departure of its chief operating officer, Brian Hull. The district chose not to fill that position and made changes to fulfill the role’s responsibilities. Changes in district leadership, such as Taylor’s arrival this summer, often lead to other staffing changes. Earlier this year, Esther McGuire was appointed to serve as Taylor’s chief of staff.
MCPS staff currently hold some of the advertised positions, including the posts of chief academic officer and general counsel. Peggy Pugh currently serves as the chief academic officer while Stephanie Williams is the district’s general counsel.
In an email to MoCo360, Cram said MCPS is reshaping its leadership structure to introduce “new chief-level executive positions leading purpose-driven divisions within the Superintendent’s cabinet.”
When asked if all the positions were new or if the reshaping was changing the scope of work for some existing positions, Cram said Taylor will share at the Dec. 5 school board meeting “his vision for leadership … including leadership positions aligned with a school support framework.”
Cram didn’t give an answer when asked whether the employees who currently hold some of the positions will be leaving MCPS or if they will be taking on new jobs within the district.
The positions are expected to start July 1. According to the job postings, the chief school leadership officer will provide “leadership, oversight, and direction for the effective and efficient operation and academic management of schools.” The chief talent management officer will provide oversight of programs and services related to human resources.
The chief student support officer will lead an office responsible for special education instruction and student support services, according to the job postings. The chief equity and development officer will manage oversight to promote educational equality.
The post of chief technology officer will manage the district’s Department of Information Technology, and the chief academic officer will lead MCPS programs and processes that will “promote and sustain the instructional framework,” according to the postings. The chief operations officer will manage and evaluate support service operations, including transportation and food services.
