HCPSS Superintendent Dr. Michael J. Martirano Announces Retirement

November 17th, 2023

The following message was sent on Nov. 17, 2023 by HCPSS Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano to staff and families:

I am writing to inform you that I have made the decision to retire as HCPSS Superintendent effective January 10, 2024. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve as the Superintendent of Schools for the Howard County Public School System since May 3, 2017. The students, teachers, staff and others I have had the privilege of engaging with each day has made this part of my life and career in education a true highlight.

For many years, I have elevated the voices of our students to the forefront of all my decisions and direction as an educator and the superintendent for Howard County schools.

I began my career teaching science and mathematics at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School, in Prince George’s County. I served as a teacher, teacher specialist, assistant principal, and principal in Prince George’s County before transitioning to Montgomery County and serving in several roles. In 2002, I was hired in Howard County as the Director of School Administration and served in that role until 2005 when I had the honor of serving as the Superintendent of Schools for St. Mary’s County Public Schools. In 2014, I was hired as the State Superintendent of Schools for the West Virginia Department of Education. It was with great pleasure that I made my way back to Howard County in May, 2017 where I have served as HCPSS Superintendent of Schools for six and a half years. I have lived in Howard County for 25 years, my wife and I raised our three children here, and it is a place I call home.

As I look to the future for the Howard County Public School System, I see great things ahead. We have tremendous leadership throughout the organization, the very best educators in the State of Maryland, and a community that embraces education and prioritizes it in ways that most counties in the nation do not. In my time serving the students, staff and families in Howard County, I believe we have made great strides that will ensure the district is in a great place for this transition of leadership.

In my time as Superintendent in Howard County, our collective leadership has been consequential, and I am extremely proud of the many accomplishments we have realized together. A few that come to mind are our immeasurable efforts to continue teaching and learning, and tending to our students during a worldwide health pandemic; embracing a restorative culture for achieving higher levels of student engagement and achievement, narrowing achievement gaps among student groups, and ensuring nurturing, inclusive and safe learning environments for all students; prioritizing supports for students who need them the most; and prioritizing relationships with our students, families, and community members who are all essential to the successful operations of the school system. I will continue to work tirelessly in my remaining days to carry out the requisite work on behalf of our students and it is my hope to interact with as many of you as I can before my last day.

What will remain with me forever is how grateful I am for all the school system teachers and staff who have continually led with kindness and compassion throughout my tenure and are driven to always do right by children. The interactions I have daily demonstrate this impact and the strong foundation I will be leaving behind. My heart is full of gratitude.

Simply put, thank you for the opportunity to serve with you as the superintendent for the Howard County Public School System. It has been a distinct honor and for that I am thankful. I wish nothing but goodness for everyone.