Junior Achievement of Central Maryland Names Dr. Sonja Santelises to Board of Directors

2/20/17

Dr. Sonja Santelises

Junior Achievement of Central Maryland Inc. (JA), a non-profit organization dedicated to educating young people to succeed in an ever-changing economy, welcomed Dr. Sonja Santelises to its board of directors.

Santelises has been chief executive officer of Baltimore City Public Schools since July 2016, where she has furthered her almost 30-year career in high-quality teaching and student achievement. Santelises has expanded her innovative skills from the classroom to the city with a focus on equal learning and efficient education.

“We are fortunate to have such a talented, dedicated leader join our board of directors,” said Jennifer Bodensiek, president and chief executive officer of Junior Achievement of Central Maryland. “Sonja has a steadfast history of success and continues to positively impact the communities she leads.”

Prior to her role as CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, Santelises immersed herself in multiple academic leadership positions in various locations. Beginning her career in New York, Santelises was director of professional development and teacher placement with Teach for America, before serving as a teacher and curriculum specialist at Decatur Clearpool School in Brooklyn. Santelises also became executive director of the national math reform program, the New York Algebra Project.

Most recently, Santelises was chief academic officer for Baltimore City Public Schools from 2010 to 2013. Before becoming involved in City Schools, she was also vice president for K-12 policy and practice at the Education Trust, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit focused on closing the learning achievement gap.

Santelises also served as assistant superintendent for Boston pilot schools—a network of 23 schools dedicated to improving the education of low-income students—and for teaching, learning and professional development. Before joining Boston Public Schools, Santelises lectured on urban education at Harvard University and was senior associate with Focus on Results, Inc., where she coached superintendents and school leaders in five major urban districts.

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Brown University, Santelises holds a Master of Arts degree in education administration from Columbia University and a Doctor of Education in administration, planning and social policy from Harvard University.

About Junior Achievement of Central Maryland

Junior Achievement of Central Maryland is dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, JACMD provides in school and after-school programs for 43,000 K-12 students, which focus on work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. For more information, visit www.jamaryland.org

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