I am pleased to inform you that the Montgomery County Board of Education has unanimously approved the appointment of Mr. Larry A. Bowers as interim superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) for the 2015 – 2016 school year, pending approval by the state superintendent of schools. Mr. Bowers has been serving as interim superintendent since February, and he has done an outstanding job under challenging circumstances. Mr. Bowers, a 37-year veteran of MCPS, was planning to retire at the end of this school year after a long and distinguished career. But, as he has done so often, Mr. Bowers is stepping up to lead when and where he is needed and has agreed to delay retirement for a year. My Board colleagues and I thank him—and his family—for making this personal sacrifice on behalf of our staff and students. In the coming months, the Board will gather to discuss how to best move forward with a superintendent search that will allow us to find the right person to lead the district beginning in July 2016. In the meantime, we have great confidence in Mr. Bowers. He took over the leadership of the district at a challenging time and has had to make some very difficult decisions. But he has made those decisions in a thoughtful, collaborative way, which has been the hallmark of his MCPS career. And that will be important as we continue the work before us. We must continue to manage our growth in a difficult budgetary environment, while remaining focused on our efforts to narrow the achievement gap and prepare students for the 21st century. We know our district will continue to move forward in the coming year under Mr. Bowers’ leadership. My Board colleagues and I want to thank those of you who have participated in the superintendent search process and, more importantly, supported our schools this year. Your continued involvement in MCPS and support of our students will be even more important in the coming year as we continue to face financial challenges. As we head into the summer, I also want to take this opportunity to publicly thank the teachers, support staff, and administrators of MCPS. During this time of transition, they have stayed focused on the job at hand—providing our students with the skills and knowledge they need to ensure their success. Our outstanding staff and our strong community support are a big part of what makes Montgomery County Public Schools one of the best districts in the nation. Thank you for your continued support of Montgomery County Public Schools.
