Dr. Mary Boswell-McComas is a leader in education, passionate about driving change, reform, and moving "education forward" as an advocate for children and youth. For nearly three decades, Mary has realized many positive changes to better the lives of students. Whether in the classroom as a teacher, Chief Academic Officer, or Principal, she always keeps sight of the bottom line—the children.

As a leader of leaders that have answered the call for reform under historic demands, Mary is supportive and engaging. Her leadership style is one of inclusivity and innovation, underscored by pragmatism. She is a trusted BOE and community partner and a champion for evidence-based practices in curriculum design. Her ideas on how to chart new courses for better education, diversity, inclusion, and staff work-life balance mimic the corporate workplace with the future of our nation’s children as a compass.

Dr. McComas is implementing Maryland’s Blueprint for the Future at a school and has previously led Professional Learning and Curriculum and Instruction from 2015, in Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS), the 25th largest school system with an accountability scope that ranged 30 offices. Yet, despite the complexity of a large ecosystem, for Mary, it is always about the children and their families. Mary has consistently demonstrated her ability to lead at the cusp of educational expertise, financial acumen, operations management, and child development.

Always ready for a challenge, Mary McComas played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic by quickly shifting gears to ensure education continuum for more than 116,000 students in 3 weeks – under mounting pressure, tighter budget, public unease, and accelerated demands for virtual learning.

Another accomplishment she is proud of is creating a clear path from graduation to work— game-changing possibilities for graduates who seek and need options other than college. BCPS currently leads the state in the number of students going into career and technical education industries right after graduation. Mary also made a difference in the area of diversity and inclusion evidenced by significant improvements in the percentage of minority students scoring above the 61 percentile in math and reading in 2021 and 2022 on the Measures of Academic Progress nationally normed assessment as well as gains for minority students and students receiving services on the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program in 2023 for math.

Further, she has integrated brain science into the training of classroom teachers through professional training—a decision that moved the needle in reading scores. Before her role as CAO, Mary served as the Executive Director of Academics from 2016 to 2017. She catalyzed systemic change by expanding Spanish programs and integrating next-generation science standards.

Her deep roots in the education system include tenure as Principal of Francis Scott Key Elementary/Middle School #76 from 2012 to 2015 in Baltimore City Schools. Among several accomplishments, she reduced school violence by 93% through culture and climate transformation.

She also served as Instructional Facilitator in Harford County Public Schools from 1997 to 2012 and as Assistant Principal at Aberdeen High School from 2004 to 2005, Department Chair and classroom teacher also at Aberdeen High School beginning in 1996.

When asked what she is most proud of accomplishing in her career, she always speaks about the children and the families supported during difficult times.