Morton Sherman, Ed.D.

Dr. Morton Sherman is a nationally recognized educator with more than 30 years' administrative experience in raising academic standards, closing achievement gaps and uniting stakeholders. Since August 2008 he has served as the Superintendent of the Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) in Virginia.

Sherman has initiated a number of reforms in Alexandria, including creating five new middle schools out of two large ones, implementing a new 21st century curriculum design, and beginning the application process to become part of the International Baccalaureate Program. He has overseen the creation of a Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Centers, a School-Based Health Clinic, and a Pre-school Initiative. One elementary school is now aPreK-8 school, with two others in the planning; all elementary schools have adopted new exemplary programs. He has advocated for a new school for students at Jefferson-Houston School and will open a new school for that community in 2014.

Alexandria is a diverse and robust community with a long tradition of civic pride and engagement. The racially and economically diverse school system includes averages over 55% Free and Reduced Lunch students. Currently, ACPS serves 12,400 students and anticipates continued increases in enrollment over the next few years.

A key focus is to move T.C. Williams High School, of Remember the Titan fame, from its designation as a Persistently Lowest Achieving School to a national model of reform. The transformation efforts have included creating individualized plans for students and teachers, with the recognition that teachers are the core of improvement as we focus on culture, principles, and practices.

His administrative service includes: Superintendent of the Tenafly, NJ, Public Schools, and Superintendent for eight years in Cherry Hill, NJ, where he was a founding member of the Southern New Jersey Standards Initiative and the Delaware Valley Minority Achievement Consortium.

Dr. Sherman was Superintendent for South Orangetown Central School District in NY for five years, Superintendent and Principal at the Norwich Free Academy in Connecticut for four years; Assistant Superintendent in Westport, CT, and a university fellow at Lehigh University. Districts he led have been award winners in the Baldrige Award and the Blue Ribbon Schools program. He began his career as a middle and high school English teacher.

He holds a B.A. from Pennsylvania State University, a M.Ed. from the University of Delaware, and an Ed. D. from Lehigh University.

Dr. Sherman has chaired state committees on teacher leadership, is member of the National Superintendents Roundtable, Public Schools for Tomorrow, Minority Student Achievement Network, ERDI, Advisory Committee National Assembly on School-Based Health Care, and Suburban Schools Superintendents. He is a founding member of The Hawn Foundation and serves as the Board chair. He speaks frequently about children's mental health, student achievement, and curriculum reform and staff development. He has testified before the US House and Senate on student mental health issues. He has written and published more than 200 articles.

Recent awards include the 2012 Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals Pathfinder Award, 2012 American School Board Journal First-place Magna Award. Dr. Sherman has also earned the Northern Virginia Scouting Award and the national John Moakley award for community service.