Anne Arundel County Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell Named 2027 Maryland Superintendent of the Year

Anne Arundel County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell has been named Maryland's 2027 Superintendent of the Year, earning statewide recognition for his leadership of one of Maryland's largest public school systems.

The honor was announced Thursday, October 29, 2026, during the annual meeting of the Public School Superintendents' Association of Maryland (PSSAM), which recognizes a superintendent each year for excellence in educational leadership, communication, professionalism, and community involvement. The recipient is selected through a vote of public school superintendents across Maryland.

Bedell, now in his fifth year leading Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS), described the recognition as a reflection of the collective efforts of educators, employees, families, and school system leadership.

"This is a very humbling moment for me because none of us gets into this work to receive awards," Bedell said. "What we have been able to accomplish over my first four years as Superintendent has happened because of passionate and dedicated people at every level of our school district and a Board of Education that has supported our vision to be a school community where everyone can belong, grow, and succeed. I am proud of what we've done and look forward to doing more in the coming years."

Bedell was appointed superintendent in June 2022 after previously serving six years as superintendent of Kansas City Public Schools. Since arriving in Anne Arundel County, he has overseen the school system's continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, two phases of comprehensive school redistricting, and efforts to improve academic performance and expand educational opportunities.

According to AACPS, those efforts have been accompanied by measurable improvements in student achievement, school ratings, employee compensation, and staffing.

The school system reported increases in student proficiency on Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program tests in English Language Arts and mathematics across elementary, middle, and high school grade levels.

Additionally, the number of schools receiving one- or two-star ratings on the Maryland Report Card declined from 13 during the 2022-2023 school year to five during the 2025-2026 school year.

Access to advanced academic opportunities has also expanded. AACPS reported a 55.7 percent increase in students taking Advanced Placement examinations, with participation reaching 8,343 students during the 2025-2026 school year. The number of AP exams receiving scores of three or higher increased by 91.2 percent, reaching 10,797.

Participation in dual enrollment programs, which allow students to earn college credits while attending high school, has nearly tripled, with more than 2,400 students participating during the 2025-2026 academic year.

The district has also expanded access to college readiness assessments by offering the PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT, and SAT examinations free of charge during the school day.

Beyond academics, Bedell's administration established the Office of Mentoring Services, which coordinates programs involving more than 750 mentors who provide support and positive influences to over 1,500 students. According to AACPS, the initiative has attracted attention from other Maryland school districts interested in adopting a similar approach.

Staffing improvements have also been a significant part of the district's reported progress.

AACPS said employee compensation has increased by more than 28 percent since the 2022-2023 school year, while classroom teacher vacancies have declined from 283 during Bedell's first year to just 16 on the opening day of the current school year.

The school system also reported improvements in student attendance and reductions in chronic absenteeism across all grade levels. Chronic absenteeism declined by 7.5 percentage points at the high school level, 7.1 points in elementary schools, and 4.2 points in middle schools.

Other initiatives have included the introduction of new elementary instructional materials, improvements in school climate survey results, and alternative student transportation arrangements aimed at reducing the impact of bus driver shortages.

Board of Education President Gloria Dent credited Bedell's leadership and collaboration with the Board for the district's progress.

"Dr. Bedell has been absolutely relentless in his efforts to improve academic outcomes for all of our students regardless of their circumstances or situations," Dent said. "The impact of the work he and his team have done in collaboration with our Board is clear in the data, and it is the reason our Board unanimously appointed him four years ago and unanimously reappointed him last February."

Throughout his tenure, Bedell has also emphasized communication and engagement with employees, families, community members, and business partners, including opportunities for discussion about challenges and priorities facing the school system.

Mary Pat Fannon, Executive Director of PSSAM, praised Bedell's contributions to educational leadership beyond Anne Arundel County.

"Dr. Bedell's leadership within PSSAM reflects his commitment to supporting his colleagues and strengthening public education across Maryland," Fannon said. "We are proud and excited to have him represent our state and his fellow superintendents on the national stage."

With the statewide recognition, Bedell will now represent Maryland in the competition for the American Association of School Administrators' National Superintendent of the Year award, with the national recipient expected to be announced in February 2027.

The recognition places Bedell among education leaders selected by their peers for statewide distinction while drawing attention to the academic, operational, and community engagement initiatives undertaken during his first four years leading Anne Arundel County Public Schools.