Myriam Rogers, who steered Baltimore County Public Schools during a time of teacher cuts and academic gains, announced suddenly Thursday morning that she is retiring in July.

Her unexpected decision comes a year before her four-year contract expires. Rogers, 51, told reporters in the school headquarters in Towson that she came to the decision with her family, which includes her four children and her grandchild, whom she “can’t wait to spend time with.”

Rogers said she will not be involved in picking her replacement, nor did she have recommendations for who the school board should choose.

“BCPS is in a good place,” she said. “We are fortunate to have leaders that care. And they are poised to carry this work forward.”

She promised a “seamless transition.”

She leaves the board with little time to find a new superintendent. Most superintendent searches begin by late December or early January to have the role filled by July 1.

In a statement, Board Chair Jane Lichter and Vice Chair Robin Harvey thanked Rogers for her service.

“Her strategic leadership and a deep sense of commitment to Team BCPS students and families will leave an indelible mark on this system,” they said. “Her retirement is a huge loss to BCPS students, staff, and community.”

They wrote that Rogers stopped a decades-long achievement decline and dismantled barriers to student success. They said she is “unwavering in her belief that all students, regardless of background, can succeed.”

Board member Maggie Domanowski said in an interview that she was shocked by Rogers’ announcement. She learned at the same time everyone else did, she said, noting that the two “didn’t see eye to eye.” Domanowski said she hasn’t yet started thinking about who would replace Rogers.

Rogers said that one of her proudest accomplishments was reducing chronic absenteeism among students last school year. It was the biggest improvement among Maryland school districts, she said.

Rogers has led the school system since 2023, after her predecessor, Darryl Williams, stepped down. Under her leadership, Baltimore County earned the most five-star school ratings from the state two years in a row.

Early in her tenure, Rogers promised to make Baltimore County Public Schools the highest-achieving system in the state. While it’s not the No. 1 school system based on test scores, academics did improve under her leadership.

Rogers’ three-year tenure included a relatively stable relationship with the school board. Unlike previous county superintendents, tensions between the board and Rogers had not blown up in public. She also appeared to have a good relationship with Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier.

“Dr. Rogers has been a dedicated educator and leader,” Klausmeier said in a statement, noting that the school system has made progress under her watch. “I have known her for many years and continue to be impressed by her steady leadership and deep commitment to public education.”

Maryland Congressman Johnny Olszewski Jr., and the former county executive, also released a statement saying he “valued Dr. Rogers’ partnership and steady leadership. Together, we worked to streamline the school system’s budget — eliminating waste” and making investments in staff.

On Tuesday at a state school board meeting, education leaders commended Rogers for a National Women In School Leadership Award from the School Superintendents Association. Citations from congressional leaders like Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks were presented to her later that day at the Baltimore County school board meeting.

Rogers came under scrutiny last year when the Maryland Inspector General for Education reported that she failed to move to the county by the deadline in her contract.

Rogers started her career in Baltimore County 30 years ago as a chemistry teacher at Woodlawn High School. She worked in Montgomery County Public Schools before returning to Baltimore County in 2020.

Margaret-Ann Howie, general counsel for the school system, is also retiring this school year. Rogers said her “well-deserved” retirement is unrelated to Howie’s.

Attending the news conference alongside Rogers was her chief of staff, Mildred Charley-Greene, who, like Rogers, worked in Montgomery County Public Schools before transferring to Baltimore County. She said on Thursday that she’s “weighing options” when it comes to her future in Baltimore County, but she’s still committed to her current work.

This is a developing story.

Banner reporter Liz Bowie contributed to this article.

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