Sterling S. Keyes collection

Dr. Sterling S. Keyes (1934-2012) was an educator, administrator, and civil rights activist who served as the first African American Superintendent of Baltimore City Public Schools between February and October 1971.

Born in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, Keyes received his bachelor’s degree from Shippensburg College in 1956 and later completed a master's degree at Rutgers University. Keyes taught English at elementary and high schools in New Jersey and New York before transitioning to administrative roles.

Keyes' Baltimore career began with his appointment as the administrative aide to Dr. Thomas D. Sheldon (1920-2006) in 1968. Prior to his employment in Baltimore, Keyes worked alongside Sheldon as a member of his administrative staff in Hempstead, New York. In 1969, Keyes was successively promoted to the roles of Coordinator of Special Programs and then Associate Superintendent of Administration, Finance and Planning within Baltimore City Public Schools.

In January 1971, Sheldon resigned from his post as Superintendent of Baltimore City Public Schools. Shortly thereafter a search began for a candidate to serve as interim superintendent following Sheldon’s departure. Nominated by Baltimore City School Board Commissioner Kalman Hettleman (b. 1935), consensus over Keyes’ appointment was met after several meetings. Upon his confirmation at 36 years old, Keyes became both the youngest man and the first African American to be appointed to the position of Superintendent of Baltimore City Public Schools. Prior to Keyes’ confirmation as Acting Superintendent, the highest ranking position achieved by an African American in the Baltimore City Public Schools system was that of Associate Superintendent, when William Pinderhughes (1919-1972) assumed the role in 1968.

According to articles published in the "Baltimore Afro-American" and the "Baltimore Sun," division among Baltimore City’s Board of School Commissioners regarding Keyes’ confirmation revolved around a perceived break from tradition when Keyes was nominated over the assumed candidate, William Pinderhughes. Pinderhughes had served as Associate Superintendent of Baltimore City Public Schools since 1968, which board commissioners--including James N. Griffin (1932-2023) and Elizabeth Murphy Moss (1917-1998)--asserted should make Pinderhughes the customary choice for interim superintendent. This stance was echoed in opinions expressed by some African American community leaders including Norman Reeves (1935-1983), president of Concerned Citizens for Black Political Progress. Commissioners Griffin and Moss clarified that their opposition was not aimed at Keyes personally but that the disagreement was a criticism of board decorum. Ultimately, Keyes’ nomination was confirmed by a unanimous vote of 8-0. The board settled on a unanimous vote both as a sign of unity and as a result of a proposed compromise wherein the chosen interim superintendent would not be considered for the permanent position.

During Keyes’ time as Acting Superintendent of Baltimore City Public Schools he confronted several issues that both preceded and continued after his tenure. Some of these persistent issues included conflict between school administration and the Baltimore Teachers Union regarding an effective solution to students' disruptive behavior and threats of physical violence against teachers; considerations for adjusting open enrollment policies to alleviate overcrowding while avoiding de facto segregation; and concerns regarding efforts to decentralize school system authority. Additionally, Keyes expressed his concerns about the prospect of a “white exodus” from city schools and suggested that additional federal funding and School Board cooperation might help mitigate that trend. In statements throughout his period acting as Superintendent, Keyes espoused a student-centered approach to school administration.

While Keyes was considered for the permanent position of superintendent, alongside William Pinderhughes and other local candidates, the decision was eventually made to hire from outside of the Baltimore City school system. In the fall of 1971, Dr. Roland N. Patterson (1928-1982), formerly a superintendent of Seattle schools central district, was appointed Superintendent of Baltimore City Public Schools and became the first African American to hold the permanent position.

In June 1972, Keyes requested a leave of absence from the post he held as Associate Superintendent of Baltimore City Public Schools in order to pursue his doctorate in Educational Administration at the University of Pennsylvania. In April 1973, Keyes announced his departure from Baltimore City Public Schools in order to accept a position with the New York State Education Department under the leadership of Dr. Thomas Sheldon.