KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Sonja Brookins Sa
ntelises
Chief Academic Officer
Baltimore City Public Schools
Dr. Sonja Brookins Santelises began her post as Chief Academic Officer for Baltimore City Public Schools on March 16, 2010. Since her appointment, Dr. Santelises has focused on setting academic priorities for City Schools to booster the achievement of students across all schools. She came to City Schools from Boston where she was the Assistant Superintendent for Pilot Schools, a network of 23 schools with broad autonomy (over budget, staffing, governance, curriculum and the school calendar) and a track record of successfully meeting students’ needs and improving the achievement of low-income students and students of color in particular.
Prior to joining Boston Public Schools, Dr. Santelises lectured on urban education for two years at Harvard University and began her career in education as director of professional development and teacher placement with Teach for America, New York, followed by stint at a year-round school in Brooklyn where she was a founder, teacher and curriculum specialist. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University, a Master of Arts in Education Administration from Columbia University and a Doctor of Education in Administration, Planning and Social Policy, from Harvard.
