November 9th, 2024
From CCPS
OCEAN CITY, MD (November 8, 2024) – It was announced Thursday evening that Cecil County Public Schools’ Superintendent, Dr. Jeffrey Lawson, has been selected as the Maryland Superintendent of the Year. The Superintendent of the Year is chosen annually by a panel of other Maryland superintendents following an extensive application process; the winner then goes on to represent the state in the National Superintendent of the Year process, all of which is a program of AASA: The School Superintendents Association. The announcement was made at the concluding banquet of the Maryland Negotiation Service (MNS) Conference, an affiliate of the Public School Superintendents Association of Maryland (PSSAM).
“It’s a privilege to serve the students, faculty, staff, and community in Cecil County. I am proud to represent our district across the state and share the amazing work happening each day to support our nearly 15,000 students,” said Lawson. “Throughout my career, I have placed value on serving others and supporting our students and staff to achieve excellence. This recognition belongs to each part of our amazing system as they are worthy of such celebration,” he continued.
Dr. Lawson is in his forty-first year in public education. Dr. Lawson began his career in education as a math teacher in Delaware. After serving in a variety of roles in the Red Clay School District in Wilmington as well as the State Department of Education in Delaware, he transitioned to Cecil County Public Schools in 2009. In 2018, he was appointed Superintendent of Schools and was re-appointed to a second term in 2022. Dr. Lawson has been a highly successful mathematics teacher, high school assistant principal, middle school principal, high school principal, executive director, and associate superintendent before accepting the superintendent position. Dr. Lawson earned his associate’s degree from Delaware Technical and Community College, his bachelor’s degree from Wilmington University, his master’s degree from Delaware State University and his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Delaware.
During his tenure as Superintendent, Dr. Lawson has worked to advance achievement outcomes for students across the district. Additionally, he has prioritized partnerships with a number of public and private institutions including Cecil College, the Cecil County Public Library, North Bay, Fair Hill Nature Center, the Cecil County Farm Museum and others. Dr. Lawson has also supported advocacy efforts to inform the community of the needs of our district and to advocate for adequate funding.
President of the Board of Education, Ms. Diana Hawley, said this of Dr. Lawson: “Dr. Lawson is a genuine and very ‘present’ servant leader and a tireless advocate for public education, always putting the well-being of students, staff, and families first. His active approach, focus on quality curriculum, and commitment to transparency have impacted our district and beyond. Dr. Lawson’s experienced, trusted voice has also helped guide the realistic and effective implementation of Maryland’s educational reform changes, earning him the respect of leaders across the state.”
Executive Director of the Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland (PSSAM), Mary Pat Fannon, stated, “Dr. Lawson was an amazing hands-on leader while he was President of PSSAM. Even though he faced incredible budget and political battles in Cecil, he spent countless hours on behalf of his superintendent colleagues, meeting with state officials, legislators, and policymakers. Dr. Lawson’s deep understanding of the complexities of the Blueprint and its differing impacts on districts made him the perfect voice for the diverse needs of our 24 school systems. We have been honored to have Dr. Lawson as our PSSAM President and offer our strongest congratulations on this much-deserved award.”
Dr. Lawson has been an education leader across the State of Maryland. He is the past President of ESMEC (Eastern Shore of Maryland Educational Consortium) and past President of PSSAM (Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland. He is a member of the Cecil County Chamber of Commerce, the Cecil Economic Development Commission, the Government Relations Committee, BEPAC (Business Education Partnership Advisory Council), and the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MEHC) Financial Assistance Advisory Council. Dr. Lawson regularly consults with and advocates on behalf of Superintendents across the state of Maryland.
Dr. Lawson is married to Dr. Lisa Lawson, Superintendent of the Brandywine School District in Wilmington, DE, has three children and one granddaughter.
Each State Superintendent of the Year is judged on the following AASA’s selection criteria:
Leadership for Learning: Creativity in successfully meeting the needs of students in his or her school system.
Communication: Strength in both personal and organizational communication.
Professionalism: Constant improvement of administrative knowledge and skills, while providing professional development opportunities and motivation to others on the education team.
Community Involvement: Active participation in local community activities and an understanding of regional, national, and international issues.
