After nearly five years as MCPS Superintendent, Dr. Jack Smith announced he will retire June 2021 in a letter to MCPS staff Jan. 14. 

In his letter, Smith shared that he has decided to retire in order to spend time with his family in Maine, following his grandson’s open heart surgery in 2019. Smith’s wife, Gayle, has already relocated to Maine and has remained there due to COVID-19.

“Given [Smith’s grandson’s] health needs, our family’s circumstances are not going to change for at least the next few years. I need to join Gayle in Maine as I find I can no longer tolerate living most of the time separately,” Smith wrote in his letter. 

Following Smith’s announcement, the BOE approved MCPS Deputy Superintendent Dr. Monifa B. McKnight as the interim superintendent. McKnight will act as superintendent for the 2021-2022 school year starting June 1, 2021. 

“Dr. McKnight possesses a deep knowledge of MCPS that would serve to support the district during this period of transition,” BOE’s President Brenda Wolff said.