Monica Goldson, chief executive of the 131,000-student Prince George’s County (Md.) district, has announced that she will retire at the end of the school year as she decried continued conflict among the county’s education leaders.
The Washington Post reports that Goldson's announcement cited divisions on the county’s school board that she says have blocked progress for the school system.
“It’s become abundantly clear to me that our board of education is having a difficult time working together, and it’s clear that we have a division in our philosophical beliefs about how to move Prince George’s County Public Schools forward,” Goldson said. “...I remained hopeful that we could at least come to some agreement and resolution, [but] it was just clear to me that we’re not able to move forward.”
A school board statement, signed by former chair Juanita Miller and vice chair Lolita E. Walker, congratulated Goldson on her retirement, but did not address her criticism of the board.
Goldson took over as interim CEO in July 2018 and was selected as the permanent leader a year later. She previously served as deputy superintendent for teaching and learning during her 32-year career with the school system.
“Since 1991, I have truly enjoyed serving the students and families of Prince George’s County Public Schools. From a mathematics teacher and cheerleading coach to Chief Executive Officer, my career has taken me to heights I never dreamed possible when I walked across the stage in 1986 as a Potomac High School graduate,” Goldson said.
Goldson was a popular leader in the county but faced criticism from some parents and officials for keeping virtual learning in place longer than all other school systems in the state.
