April 29, 2026

What does it take to run one of the largest urban public school districts in the country? Dr. Sonja Santelises, outgoing CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS), has spent the past ten years navigating a contentious environment while still succeeding in making changes that led to student success.

Join Bellwether and The 74 for a candid conversation with Dr. Santelises as she steps out of her role as BCPS CEO and reflects on her work. We’ll dive deep on the biggest challenges she faced in the role, the unique obstacles BCPS encountered, and lessons learned that can inform the success of other districts.