Exit Interview: Dr. Sonja Santelises on Leading Baltimore City Public Schools

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Exit Interview: Dr. Sonja Santelises on Leading Baltimore City Public Schools

Join Bellwether and The 74 for a candid conversation with Dr. Santelises as she steps out of her role as Baltimore Schools CEO.

By The 74

April 29, 2026

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What does it take to run one of the nation’s largest public school districts? Dr. Sonja Santelises, outgoing CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, has spent 10 years navigating a contentious environment while making changes that drove student success.

The 74 is proud to partner with Bellwether for a candid conversation with Santelises, led by Bellwether co-founder and The 74 board member Andrew Rotherham, about the biggest challenges she鈥檚 faced, the unique obstacles she encountered and lessons learned that can inform success in other districts.

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                <h2>Exit Interview: Dr. Sonja Santelises on Leading Baltimore City Public Schools</h2>

                <h2>Join Bellwether and The 74 for a candid conversation with Dr. Santelises as she steps out of her role as Baltimore Schools CEO.</h2>

                <p class="sans">By <a rel="author" href="/contributor/20200/">The 74</a></p>

                <img src="/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/bellwether-exit-interview-webinar-santelises.jpg">

                <p>This story first appeared at <a href="/">The 74</a>, a nonprofit news site covering education. <a href="/about/newsletters/?utm_source=republish-button&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=republish">Sign up for free newsletters from The 74</a> to get more like this in your inbox.</p>
                
<p>What does it take to run one of the nation’s largest public school districts? Dr. Sonja Santelises, outgoing CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, has spent 10 years navigating a contentious environment while making changes that drove student success. </p>



<p>The 74 is proud to partner with Bellwether for a candid conversation with Santelises, led by Bellwether co-founder and The 74 board member Andrew Rotherham, about the biggest challenges she鈥檚 faced, the unique obstacles she encountered and lessons learned that can inform success in other districts. </p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Related coverage from The 74:</h3>



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<li><a href="/article/superintendent-of-the-year-finalists-talk-ai-funding-problems-and-career-paths/">Superintendent of the Year Finalists Talk AI, Funding Problems and Career Paths</a></li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="/article/retiring-d-c-charter-leader-can-celebrate-her-own-success-and-the-districts/">Retiring D.C. Charter Leader Can Celebrate Her Own Success 鈥� and the District鈥檚</a></li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="/article/former-mississippi-schools-chief-aims-to-repeat-learning-miracle-in-maryland/">Former Mississippi Schools Chief Aims to Repeat Learning 鈥楳iracle鈥� in Maryland</a></li>
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Exit Interview: Dr. Sonja Santelises on Leading Baltimore City Public Schools

Join Bellwether and The 74 for a candid conversation with Dr. Santelises as she steps out of her role as Baltimore Schools CEO.

Education news and commentary, delivered right to your inbox.

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