"His particular strengths include supporting effective instructional programs, budgeting, systems thinking, return on investment analysis, and efficiency and effectiveness in operations," the district said. "...Dr. Smith has earned a reputation for encouraging and helping school-based staff to learn and use innovative strategies to promote the success of children in the classroom."
The 156,000-student district in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., has been without a permanent superintendent for a year; Joshua Starr, who had led Montgomery County schools since 2011, resigned in February 2015.
A few months later, the board had identified an administrator in the Houston district, Andrew Houlihan, as the top contender to replace Starr, but Houlihan subsequently withdrew himself from consideration, and the district has to reboot its superintendent search.