TOWSON, MD—Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Darryl Williams issued a statement on Saturday afternoon regarding the passing of former Superintendent Dr. Joe Hairston.

The full statement can be read below:

On behalf of the entire Baltimore County Public Schools community, I express condolences to the family of Dr. Joe A. Hairston. While I did not have the opportunity to work with Dr. Hairston, I greatly appreciated him meeting with me earlier this year as I was getting to know the community.

For 12 years, Dr. Hairston served as superintendent of Baltimore County schools. With every action, he exuded the “quiet confidence” that he often advocated, and he worked to ensure high-quality education for every child regardless of race or zip code. Under his leadership, as the school system grew and became more diverse, academic achievement and graduation rates remained strong. Advanced Placement exam participation almost tripled. Dr. Hairston’s noteworthy innovations include establishing a virtual learning environment at Chesapeake High School (believed to be the first of its kind in the nation); forming key partnerships with the College Board and AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) to promote college attendance; and launching the school system’s first school-wide STEM academy.

But his strongest mark on Baltimore County Public Schools was his recognition of the “seismic shifts” coming in education and his devotion to every child. “All means all” was his mantra, his commitment, and his goal. He will be missed, but his legacy lives on in the lives of every student, educator, and community member who benefited from his service.