Brooks New President of Maryland State Board

A press release from the Maryland State Board of Education - The Maryland State Board of Education today elected Dunbar Brooks as its next president, while Beverly Cooper was elected vice president.

Brooks replaces Dr. Edward Root, who had served as State Board president since 2003. Root retired from the position last month as his term on the Board ended.

Brooks was elected president after two terms as vice president. He is Manager of Data Development at the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, a long-range regional planning organization for Greater Baltimore. He also is a guest lecturer and presenter on demographic and educational issues. As an adjunct faculty member, he teaches urban planning and computer science at two colleges.

Brooks served for 10 years on the Baltimore County Board of Education, ending his tenure on that board as its president. A native of Baltimore City currently living in Baltimore County, Brooks is a graduate of Frederick Douglass High School.

Cooper is vice president of the Reginald F. Lewis Foundation. She is a former federal manager who worked in the areas of systems and system security and was responsible for the development and dissemination of systems security policy for a cabinet-level Federal agency. Ms. Cooper is presently a member of the boards of the Reginald F. Lewis Foundation, Archdiocese of Baltimore Administration, Catholic Family Foundation, Sinai Hospital, Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture, and the Baltimore School for the Arts. Ms. Cooper is a native Baltimorean who continues to live in Baltimore City.

The Maryland State Board of Education is a 12-member body appointed by the Governor. Members serve a maximum of two four-year terms. A student member serves a one-year term.