Goldson Takes The Reins

Permanent CEO of Public School System Is Named

By Natasha Pollard @natasha84865123

In what she regards as “the most important announcement so far in this administration,” Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks named Dr. Monica Goldson the permanent Chief Executive Officer for Prince George’s County Public Schools. Goldson has served as interim CEO since January 2019.

Joined by School Board Chair Dr. Alvin Thornton and County Council Chair Todd Turner, as well as many county and administration officials, Dr. Goldson was warmly greeted with applause and support.

“I’m so proud to announce, without reservation, my appointment of Dr. Monica Goldson as the permanent Chief Executive Officer of Prince George’s County Public Schools.” Alsobrooks said. “She is a daughter of Prince George’s…and her experience includes 40 years in our school system.”

Goldson has spent her entire 28 year career in the Prince George’s County public school system and has reared her own children as students there.

“All our children are the best reflection of her.” Alsobrooks said.

“The institutional knowledge that she brings is simply invaluable to every employee, parent and student. And what I’m really excited about is that she has a 360 degree view of our system – she sat in the seats of our school[s] as a student, she then became a teacher, she has been the chief operations officer and also a parent. She has a complete and comprehensive understanding of our system.”

Alsobrooks encouraged her colleagues to support the new CEO.

“Dr. Goldson alone cannot change the trajectory of the school system. Success of our schools will depend on our collective efforts,” Alsobrooks said.

Goldson thanked County Executive Alsobrooks for “her transformational leadership and the opportunity to serve” Prince George's.

“It's not often being in a leadership role you get to see women leading in a way that we are able to do,” Goldson said.

This is another historic moment for the county as Goldson will serve as the first African-American woman CEO of the Prince George’s County Public School System.

Goldson assured students and parents that what is going to be different under her leadership is “continued transparency which has been key.”  Employees will be held accountable for their work with students and academic progress will be seen.

“We haven't had stability and I've been here for over 28 years,” Goldson says.

Goldson wants to work on what is needed to improve county schools. With over 22,000 employees on board, many have committed to do the work.

Goldson says this is “necessary to put us back on the map to make sure that everyone understands [that] we are an outstanding school district, not only in the state of Maryland but nationally.”  She is thankful and always brings the focus back on children. Ready to answer the hard questions and challenging all adults working with the county’s children to “be accountable for our actions.”

Goldson’s top three priorities are low achieving schools, the expansion of pre-kindergarten, and a focus on mental health support.

Goldson also added the school district supported 50 schools to help struggling readers in grades K - 3 with a summer reading program this summer. Every student was sent home with a backpack full of books to read during the summer break. Those books will also be read on Facebook.

Goldson concluded, “I’m a firm believer that continuing to add programs to bring people back [from private schools] is not necessary. What we have to prove is that we have the academic excellence and rigor [to] offer every student, at every last one of our schools and that will bring them back.”