Superintendent

Dr. David T. Sovine began serving as superintendent of Washington County Public Schools on July 1, 2022. Throughout his career that spans over 30 years, he has served as an educator, leader, partner, and innovator in public education. He leverages resources with intention and strategy to effectively meet the diverse and evolving needs of students across rural, suburban, and urban communities. 

Dr. Sovine plays a pivotal role in leading the district's strategic plan, "Your Journey, Our Commitment." Under his guidance, the district is focused on fostering academic excellence, enhancing student well-being, maximizing learning opportunities for all, and engaging caregivers as well as community partners. His leadership drives the implementation of innovative programs and initiatives that align with the district's vision, promoting the success of each student on their educational journey. The plan launched in the 2024-2025 school year and charts objectives and measures to monitor the school system’s progress over the next five years.

Dr. Sovine also leads strategic initiatives to implement the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a State legislative measure that invests significant funding to improve student outcomes and enhance the quality of education across Maryland. In his initial years with WCPS, Dr. Sovine took quick action to support critical student needs, like increasing safety and security efforts in schools and strengthening mental health supports, which positively impacted school climate and culture across the district. He believes in building a strong workforce to support a thriving community, and he strengthened relationships with business partners to grow high school student apprenticeship opportunities, making WCPS the number one apprenticeship program in the state with more than 50 businesses participating. Many apprenticeship placements specifically target careers in education and healthcare to address staffing shortages in the Washington County area. Several students continue with full-time employment upon graduation, or they pursue higher education while maintaining a level of employment. Under Dr. Sovine’s leadership, he is intently pursuing partnerships to expand WCPS’ pre-k opportunities to three-year-olds, further supporting the district’s efforts to ensure children are ready to learn when they enter kindergarten. 

Dr. Sovine believes in serving the Washington County community beyond the classroom and is dedicated to advocating for public education at local and national levels. He is the current President of the Public School Superintendents' Association of Maryland (PSSAM) and serves as the Chair of the Washington, D.C. Area School Study Council (WASSC) Board. Dr. Sovine is also a member of the School Superintendents Association (AASA) Governing Board, where he has been instrumental in providing testimony to lawmakers on Capitol Hill to address student needs in public schools. He participates in various volunteer board positions locally, including organizations like the University System of Maryland at Hagerstown, the Greater Hagerstown Committee, the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Foundation, and the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts.

Dr. Sovine previously served as superintendent of Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) in Virginia for 11 years. During his tenure, FCPS implemented a number of innovative programs, including: full-day kindergarten, a preschool program, Profile of a Graduate, an instructional coaching model, the Virginia Tiered Systems of Support, a work-based learning/workforce development program, a 1:1 Chromebook initiative, and expanded career and technical education course offerings. During the spring of 2018, Dr. Sovine was selected as the Region IV Superintendent of the Year.

Dr. Sovine served as the Executive Director of K-12 Curriculum and Instruction and Secondary Education in Spotsylvania County immediately prior to becoming Frederick County’s Superintendent of Schools. Prior to serving in central office senior leadership roles, Dr. Sovine served as a high school principal and middle school principal in Chesterfield County. During his four years as principal at Monacan High School, the school was recognized for two consecutive years by Newsweek as one of the best public high schools in the nation. In his final year as principal there, The Community Foundation serving Richmond and Central Virginia presented Sovine with an R.E.B. Award for Distinguished Educational Leadership. The award recognizes principals who go beyond the day-to-day demands of their position to create an exceptional educational environment.

Before becoming a principal, Dr. Sovine had leadership and teaching experiences at the elementary, middle and high school levels. As a teacher, Dr. Sovine received the prestigious Sallie Mae Teacher Award recognizing him as one of the top 100 new teachers nationally.

Dr. Sovine holds a Bachelor of Science degree from West Virginia University Institute of Technology, a Master of Education degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Virginia.

For more information on Dr. Sovine’s selected achievements and service volunteer involvement as Superintendent of Schools in Frederick County, VA, click here.