State Superintendent of Schools Retires

On the seventh floor of the building named after her at 200 W. Baltimore St., State Superintendent of Schools Nancy Grasmick announced her retirement Wednesday after nearly 20 years leading one of the nation's top public education systems.

Grasmick, superintendent since September 1991, said her decision to step down has nothing to do with political differences with Gov. Martin O'Malley or a desire not to work.

"I need to think of a new normal for me. I also want to be sure that everything here is stabilized so that there's no absolute decline in the opportunity for our students because they deserve the best," said Grasmick, 72, whose two-decade tenure is the longest in the nation for a state schools superintendent.

Grasmick said she will step down June 30 and will take a vacation, something she hasn't done in more than a year and a half.

The state Board of Education will appoint a replacement.