A Boston public school administrator has been appointed chief academic officer of Baltimore City's schools, taking the place of Mary Minter, who is retiring after 40 years in the system. Sonja Brookins Santelises, who starts March 16, is currently the assistant superintendent for pilot schools, a network of 23 charterlike schools. She is a graduate of the urban superintendents doctoral program at Harvard University, the program that CEO Andr�s Alonso also went through. Santelises, who graduated from Brown University in 1989, also worked for an education company, Focus on Results, and was executive director of the New York City Algebra Project, a national nonprofit with a branch in Baltimore that empowers students to work to improve the education in their communities. Minter's retirement was announced Tuesday at the same time as the appointment of Santelises. A former teacher, principal and area academic officer, Minter has had a nearly 40-year career in the school district. She served as one of four Maryland Distinguished Principals, providing training to other principals and serving as a mentor for new principals.

- Liz Bowie