A former president of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Fells Point has been selected as the next superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools.
The Baltimore County Board of Education voted 8-1, with two members abstaining, to appoint Dr. William “Bill” Heiser during a June 24 board meeting. His four-year term is set to begin July 1. He will succeed Dr. Myriam Rogers, who is retiring.
Over the past decade, Baltimore County Public Schools has had four superintendents and one interim superintendent.
Heiser is a graduate of Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1995 and a master’s degree in education in 1997. While at Loyola, he was a four-year member and three-year captain of the men’s soccer team.
Heiser led Cristo Rey Jesuit High School from 2015 to 2023. Earlier, he served as principal of Catonsville High School in Baltimore County from 2013 to 2015 and principal of North County High School in Anne Arundel County from 2010 to 2013.
Heiser, who holds a doctoral degree in education from Morgan State University in Baltimore, was named Maryland High School Principal of the Year in 2013.
In a June 25 news release from Loyola, Afra Ahmed Hersi, dean of Loyola’s School of Education, said there was a cheer on the Evergreen campus when news of the appointment was announced.
“We couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead for BCPS students and families,” Hersi said, “and we are honored to continue building our partnership under his leadership.”
Heiser credited his Loyola experience with providing the foundation for his career in education.
“Loyola was pivotal in shaping who I am today as a leader,” Heiser said. “When I stepped onto Loyola’s campus, I met caring people who exemplified cura personalis (care for the whole person), and I was taught by excellent faculty who prepared me to understand the complexities of our society and the work we must do to address these challenges.”
He said his calling to education began in Loyola’s School Counseling program, which equipped him with the tools to support and guide students.
“I strive to keep students, particularly the most vulnerable, at the center of my decisions – this will continue in my role as superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools,” he said.
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, a Catholic school sponsored by the Society of Jesus, serves families with limited financial resources, with students participating in a corporate internship program.
Hersi said Loyola’s partnership with Baltimore County Public Schools runs deep, citing the Baltimore Teacher Apprenticeship Program (BTAP), a two-year teacher preparation program that allows apprentices to train with a cohort of peers while receiving guidance from experienced teacher mentors.
“Our school counseling program mental health grant is putting well-prepared, responsive counselors into high-need BCPS schools at a time when students need that support more than ever,” Hersi said. “Our NSF Noyce Scholars are doing their student teaching in BCPS math and science classrooms and committing to stay and serve in high needs schools after graduation. And every semester, our student teachers are learning their craft alongside the outstanding educators of Team BCPS.”
Heiser was selected following a nationwide search conducted by executive search firm Ray and Associates and received approval from State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carey Wright, as required by Maryland law.
Most recently, Heiser served as chief operating officer for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, where he provided executive leadership for the fourth-largest school system in Maryland, supporting more than 85,000 students across 130 schools.
As chief operating officer, Heiser led a historic redistricting process, managed a $195 million capital budget, and oversaw major school construction projects aligned with enrollment growth and educational priorities, according to a Baltimore County Public Schools news release.
“The board conducted a thorough, nationwide search that attracted interest from highly-qualified school leaders, administrators, and current superintendents, and all of the candidates had a tremendous passion for education and ensuring Team BCPS students reach their highest potential,” said Jane Lichter, chair of the board of education, in the news release. “Dr. Heiser’s passion, dedication and strong commitment to academic excellence, systems improvement and the development of high-performing, equitable school communities set him apart, and the board of education is thrilled to work with him to continue to move our system forward.”
In the release, Heiser said he will “work diligently with the Board of Education to ensure that our system works every day to serve, support and inspire all members of Team BCPS and keep students at the forefront of all that we do.”
“I am committed to working with all stakeholders to continue to build on the outstanding work that has been accomplished under Dr. Rogers’ leadership, and I am confident that, working together, we will take this system to the next level.”
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