Mark Bedell Named Maryland Superintendent of the Year
The Anne Arundel County school leader earns state recognition for significant improvements in staffing and student performance.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Administration
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The Public School Superintendents' Association of Maryland has named Mark Bedell as the 2027 Maryland Superintendent of the Year. Bedell will now represent the state in the national competition.
Why it matters
Bedell was selected for his leadership in improving educational standards, professional communication, and community involvement across the district. His efforts have led to measurable gains in academic performance and staff stability.
Teacher vacancies dropped to 16 from an initial 283 in 2022, while employee compensation has grown by over 28 percent. Additionally, low-performing schools decreased from 13 to five since the 2022-23 school year.
The players
Mark Bedell
He is the superintendent of Anne Arundel County Public Schools who was named the 2027 Maryland Superintendent of the Year.
Public School Superintendents' Association of Maryland
This organization represents school system leaders across the state and oversees the selection process for the annual superintendent award.
The details
Under Bedell, the district saw a 55.7 percent increase in students taking Advanced Placement exams and a 91.2 percent rise in scores of three or higher. These gains were supported by new instructional materials and the creation of an Office of Mentoring Services to bolster staffing and student support.
Timeline
Mark Bedell began his tenure as AACPS superintendent in June 2022.
The 2022-23 school year serves as the baseline for teacher vacancies and compensation metrics.
The Public School Superintendents' Association of Maryland announced the award on October 29, 2026.
The national recipient of the Superintendent of the Year award will be named in February 2027.
Culture Shift
This recognition reflects a broader trend of districts prioritizing targeted instructional interventions and retention programs to satisfy the standards of the Maryland Report Card accountability system. It underscores a shift toward data-driven management to boost performance in public education.
Residents in Anne Arundel County may notice greater stability in staffing as teacher vacancy rates have significantly declined under current leadership. Families could see broader academic opportunities for students, such as increased participation in Advanced Placement coursework.
The takeaway
Effective school administration can yield substantial improvements in both teacher retention and student academic outcomes over a multi-year period. Districts often achieve these results by combining competitive employee compensation with targeted instructional support programs.
What happens next
The School Superintendents Association will announce the national recipient of the Superintendent of the Year award in February 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest leadership developments in Maryland Administration.
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