December 8, 2020 For Immediate Release
During tonight’s Baltimore City School Board meeting, Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners voted to approve City Schools CEO Dr. Sonja Brookins Santelises’ selection of Dr. Joan Dabrowski to serve as the new chief academic officer. Dr. Dabrowski will begin her role effective February 8, 2021.
Dr. Dabrowski will lead more than 300 staff members in the key work of the district; developing and coordinating resources to ensure students receive rigorous, engaging instruction tailored to their individual needs.
“After an exhaustive search, we are privileged to welcome the new chief academic officer. Her longstanding history as an educator, leader and advocate for literacy is substantial and her expertise will be invaluable as we continue to navigate these challenging times,” stated Dr. Sonja Santelises. “I am clear and confident that her expertise will strengthen not only the academic team, but the entire City Schools family.”
“I’m honored to be joining City Schools as its Chief Academic Officer. I hold great respect for Dr. Santelises’ courageous leadership and am thrilled to become part of the talented team she has assembled across the district,” stated Dr. Dabrowski. “The past eight months have been deeply challenging. At this moment in history, the role of high-quality teaching and learning has never felt more urgent. I remain steadfast in my belief that a rich and relevant education -- even in a virtual space -- can transform the life of a child. I look forward to supporting educators as we work together to sustain and advance the educational outcomes for students in Baltimore City Schools.”
Dr. Dabrowski brings a depth of knowledge in literacy, a primary pillar of City Schools’ Blueprint for Success. Additionally, she brings knowledge in the areas of instructional leadership, adult teaching and learning, project (and budget) management, facilitation of cross-functional teams, curriculum writing and review, and PreK-12 literacy acquisition and development.
Dr. Dabrowski has held a range of positions in education working in schools and districts across the country including, Baltimore, Boston, Cambridge, Detroit, Houston, Louisville, Montgomery County, and Washington DC. She spent ten years as a classroom teacher (grades K-2 and 4-5), began her career in Teach for America and earned a master’s degree at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Additionally, she holds a Doctorate of Education in K-12 School Leadership from Vanderbilt University, Peabody College. She holds teaching, administrator, and superintendent credentials in Massachusetts.
She has served as the Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning in Wellesley, MA for the past six years. In this role, she had oversight of all PreK-12 academic programming and worked closely with the School Committee, Superintendent, principals, and district leaders to operationalize the system’s priorities. Most recently, she co-led the district's reopening efforts under COVID-19 including the creation and management of a PreK-12 Remote Learning Schools serving over 500 Wellesley students who need to learn from home.