UPDATED: Worcester County Board of Education Names Dr. Annette Wallace as New Superintendent
Image courtesy WCPS
UPDATED – 04/24/25 – The Worcester County Board of Education has named Dr. Annette Wallace as the new Superintendent of Schools. The Board of Education met in a special Board meeting Thursday afternoon – Dr. Wallace’s appointment is pending contract negotiations. She is a graduate of WCPS and the first female named superintendent. Dr. Wallace will succeed Superintendent Lou Taylor on July 1st. Taylor opted in January to retire rather than seek another 4 year term after 41 years of service to Worcester County Public Schools.
Additional information from the Worcester County Board of Education:
“I am deeply honored and humbled to serve alongside the exceptional educators, staff, and school bus contractors who dedicate themselves each day to the success and well-being of every child in Worcester County Public Schools. I stand on the shoulders of the incredible teachers, staff, and administrators who came before me and whose mentorship has guided me throughout my journey,” said Dr. Wallace. “Our team will stay committed to our core mission of providing every student with a high-quality education that meets the needs of the whole child. We will focus on every student reading on grade level by grade 3, a marker of continued academic success. It will be our goal for every student to gain an education beyond high school through a skilled trade program, the military, and/or college or university. We WILL accomplish this by knowing every student by name, strength, and need!”
A lifelong resident of Worcester County, and a proud graduate of Worcester County Public Schools (WCPS), Wallace is the first female in WCPS history to have ever been named to the superintendency. Currently serving as Chief Safety and Academic Officer for grades 9 – 12, she has already left a remarkable impact on the school system during her nearly 22 years with the school system. Most notably, Wallace led Pocomoke High School through a transformational journey that significantly improved academic performance and student access to advanced coursework; she helped facilitate and
implement the school system’s successful transition to Apple technology; and her leadership in developing the Safe and Supportive Schools model for student discipline and safety has been sought out by other leaders statewide in this area.
In addition to her extensive experience in the school system, Wallace remains actively engaged in the betterment of the Worcester County community through her service on the following boards: United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore, Atlantic General Hospital Corporate Board, Junior Achievement, and the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore.
“Choosing the next leader of this school system is one of the most important responsibilities of this Board,” Board of Education President Todd Ferrante said during the special meeting. “We are confident that with Dr. Wallace stepping into this role, a bright future is ahead for the students and staff of Worcester County Public Schools.”
Following Superintendent Lou Taylor’s January announcement that he would retire after 41 years of dedicated service to Worcester County Public Schools, the Board of Education contracted with the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE) to lead the search for his successor. Community input was gathered to help define the qualities desired in the next superintendent, and after a careful review of applications and initial interviews, two finalists were selected. Each finalist participated in extensive interviews with various stakeholder groups earlier this week.
“We are confident that the search, conducted by MABE, was a very thorough process,” said Dr. Edward Shirley of MABE. “From stakeholder input to roundtable panel interviews involving close to 90 participants, every step was thoughtfully planned and executed. The board made its decision following a long and deliberate discussion.”
On July 1, 2025, Dr. Wallace will officially succeed Superintendent Taylor.
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ORIGINAL STORY – 04/08/25 – The Worcester County Board of education has named the two finalists for the next Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Annette Wallace is a graduate of Worcester County Public Schools – and is the current Chief Safety Officer and Academic Officer for grades 9 to 12. Dr. Monique Wheatley-Phillip has over 30 years of educational experience and is currently Consulting Administrator for School Operations in Baltimore County Public Schools. Each candidate will take part in a Day in the District later this month. The Board hopes to choose its candidate this month and vote to appoint them in May – with the new superintendent beginning on July 1st.
Additional information from the Worcester County Board of Education:
- Dr. Annette Wallace – A graduate of Worcester County Public Schools (WCPS), Dr. Annette Wallace currently serves as WCPS Chief Safety Officer and Academic Officer for grades 9-12. With a history of impactful leadership, Wallace served as principal of Pocomoke High School from 2012-2018, where she doubled AP enrollment while significantly improving student pass rates and launched Project 100 to increase access to post-secondary education, all of which led to the school becoming the district’s highest performing. Since her appointment to Chief Operating Officer in 2018, Wallace has demonstrated leadership in school construction, food services, technology, special education, all academic content areas, human resources, and student services. She holds degrees in Mathematics, School Leadership, and Educational Leadership, is actively involved in her community, and has presented as a thought leader at local, state, and national education conferences.
- Dr. Monique Wheatley-Phillip – With over 30 years of educational experience, Dr. Monique Wheatley-Phillip is a strategic thinker and planner, skilled in fostering collaboration and building consensus. Wheatley-Phillip’s demonstrated leadership in using evidence-based instructional practices and data analytics have proven to narrow achievement gaps and improve student performance. As Consulting Administrator for School Operations in Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS), Wheatley-Phillip leads medium and large sized schools, supervising school principals serving across diverse communities. Prior to this role, Wheatley-Phillip served as BCPS’ Division Chief of Research, Accountability, and Assessment. She holds degrees in education as well as certificates in Leadership and Reading.