Acting Superintendent Tapped To Lead Howard County Public School System

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — An acting superintendent has been tapped to lead the Howard County Public School System until a permanent superintendent is hired. Current superintendent Michael Martirano recently announced his retirement effective Jan. 10.

The Howard County Board of Education announced late Thursday that Howard County Public School System Chief Academic Officer Bill Barnes will serve as the acting superintendent starting Jan. 10.

Barnes has served as the HCPSS chief academic officer since 2017 and oversees the departments of special education, curriculum, instruction and assessment, and program innovation and student well-being. He began his career with HCPSS in 2008, serving as the coordinator of secondary mathematics and director of secondary and preK-12 curricular programs. Prior to that, he served as a high school math teacher.

Throughout his extensive career in education, he has held multiple leadership roles on state and national committees, panels and groups; primarily focused on mathematics education. As a teacher, Barnes received National Board Certification and was awarded Maryland’s prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching in 2003, the highest award bestowed upon a mathematics teacher in Maryland.

“The board is pleased that Mr. Barnes has agreed to lead our school system for the next several months,” said Jennifer Swickard Mallo, board of education chair. “When we thought about what was best for the students and staff right now, the board agreed that Mr. Barnes’ history and experience could lead our system well. Mr. Barnes knows the system, people and culture of Howard County schools and students. His leadership and teaching experience will help him seamlessly transition into this role.”

The board will continue to conduct a nationwide search for a permanent superintendent.