The Fund for Educational Excellence announced the creation of the Dr. Sonja B. Santelises Legacy Fund to honor Santelises’ decade of service as CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools.
Santelises’ time as CEO made her the longest-serving leader of the district in more than 80 years. More than $250,000 has already been raised to support the fund through donations from philanthropic supporters who wanted to honor Santelises’ legacy and invest in Baltimore City students.
The fund was created in partnership with Santelises and will use annual investment income to give pre-college experiences to a cohort of Baltimore City Public Schools high school students. These experiences are meant to expand their horizons and help them find pathways to academic and personal success.
Students selected for the program will be known as Santelises Scholars. The initiative symbolizes City Schools’ excellence and Santelises’ commitment to increasing opportunities for Baltimore’s young people.
“Dr. Santelises has dedicated her tenure to ensuring Baltimore City students have access to the opportunities, support and belief they need to thrive,” said Roger Schulman, president and CEO of The Fund for Educational Excellence, in a statement. “This Legacy Fund is a meaningful way to honor her extraordinary leadership while investing directly in the future of the young people she has championed every day.”
Santelises has served as CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools since 2016. Last year, she was named superintendent-in-residence at The Broad Center at Yale University’s School of Management, Baltimore Fishbowl reported in October 2025. The new role involves leading a public education leadership fellowship, teaching in the school’s Master’s in Public Education Management degree program, and mentoring alumni.
“Under her leadership, City Schools has seen notable improvements in student literacy, expanded access to rigorous coursework, strengthened arts programs and significant facility upgrades, accomplishments that reflect her deep commitment to equity and excellence for every student,” according to a press release from Baltimore City Public Schools.
Santelises was recognized as Maryland Superintendent of the Year in 2025 and one of four finalists for the 2026 National Superintendent of the Year award. She was even considered a serious candidate for President Joe Biden’s Secretary of Education in 2020.
Details regarding the application process and selection criteria for the inaugural Santelises Scholars cohort will be announced in fall 2026. Those interested in contributing to the Dr. Sonja B. Santelises Legacy Fund may contact development@thefundbalt.org for more information.
