March 31, 2020 For Immediate Release
BALTIMORE — During tonight’s Baltimore City School Board meeting, the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners voted to approve City Schools CEO Dr. Sonja Brookins Santelises' selection of Christopher Doherty to serve as the new chief financial officer. Doherty will begin his role effective May 26.
The chief financial officer directs the Finance Office which implements the application of sound financial management practices and controls, including financial reporting and analysis, cash flow, debt management, hiring controls, budget adjustments, procurement requests, employee payroll, food and nutrition, and financial management technology.
"We are excited to add someone with Christopher's long history of public service to the City Schools team. He brings a strong fiscal background and extensive experience in key roles with the U.S. Department of Education and Baltimore based educational nonprofits,” stated Dr. Sonja Santelises. “This combination gives him a unique perspective on the fiscal challenges we face, and the insight to propose comprehensive solutions. I am confident he will be a strong asset to our team. I want to thank Maryanne Cox for her outstanding work, professionalism and leadership as our interim CFO.”
Doherty joins City Schools from Thermochem Recovery International, Inc. (TRI) where he served as chief financial officer since 2006.
“I am delighted to join the team that Dr. Santelises has assembled to work for the children and families of Baltimore City Public Schools,” states Doherty. “As a parent of current City School students and recent graduates, I feel so connected to the people and the important work of the district and cannot wait to begin work as CFO.”
Prior to working for TRI, Doherty served the United States Department of Education in several roles including, chief of staff for the Office of the Deputy Secretary, acting assistant deputy secretary, Office of Innovation and Improvement, Hurricane Katrina Response Task Force Leader, and chief of staff, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. He served as executive director of the Baltimore Curriculum Project and was the founding director and teacher at The Baraka School in Kenya, Africa, a boarding school for Baltimore City public school boys.
Doherty graduated from Stanford University and received his Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University. Doherty and his wife are parents to four children. Two have graduated from City Schools and two are current high school students. The family has resided in West Baltimore for more than 20 years and are parishioners at Corpus Christi church in Bolton Hill.