2 New Hires Brought On Board For Prince George's County Public Schools

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Prince George’s County Public Schools has announced two key appointments to the district’s executive leadership team.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph named Dr. Deann M. Collins as chief of staff and Denise Douglas as associate superintendent for communications and community engagement.

Collins brings state and district-level expertise to her new role, having most recently served as deputy state superintendent for teaching and kearning at the Maryland State Department of Education. There, she led nationally recognized initiatives in literacy, high-quality instructional materials, special education reform and the implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.

“Dr. Collins is an exemplary leader who brings both the experience and heart we need at this critical time,” Joseph said. “She answered the call to serve with humility, and her leadership will ensure our systems are aligned and our goals are met. As a resident and parent in Prince George’s County, her passion for this work is personal — and our children will benefit from that every day.”

Joining the leadership team as associate superintendent for communications and community engagement, Denise Douglas is anationally recognized communications leader and recipient of the 2024 Public Relations Society of America “Impact” Award. She most recently served as director of communications for the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office where she spearheaded multilingual outreach initiatives and secured major media coverage on platforms such as CNN, MSNBC and NewsNation. A former award-winning journalist, Douglas also spent nearly a decade at Prince George’s Community Television, where she became known for stories that elevated the voices and experiences of Latino families and other underrepresented groups in the county.

“Denise Douglas is a communicator of deep integrity and courage,” Joseph said. “She understands the importance of telling the district’s story clearly, honestly and consistently. More importantly, she is committed to listening — to building two-way relationships with our community that foster trust and transparency.”

"Both leaders assume their roles immediately and will play a central part in executing Dr. Joseph’s 100-Day Entry Plan, which prioritizes family engagement, academic improvement, human capital development, alignment to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and strategic collaboration with all stakeholders," the school district stated.