Emily L. Nielson, the Chief Human Capital Officer for Baltimore City Public Schools, has been awarded the 2026 Distinguished Service Award by the Council of the Great City Schools. This recognition, sponsored by Kelly Education, highlights individuals in management services who have made significant contributions to urban education.
The award was presented during the annual Chief Human Resources Officers meeting held in Nashville, Tennessee. Nielson, who has been with Baltimore City Public Schools since 2022, has spearheaded substantial improvements in staffing and operational efficiency within the district, which serves around 75,000 students across 160 schools.
Under Nielson's leadership, the district saw a nearly 25% increase in teacher hiring in 2023, and teacher vacancies reached their lowest levels on record in 2025. She has also overhauled the hiring process, reducing the time it takes to deliver offer letters from three weeks to just three days.
In addition to her work in Baltimore, Nielson initiated the Maryland-Virginia-DC Chief Human Resources Officer network, fostering collaboration among HR leaders in large school districts. She is also part of the inaugural cohort of the Women Leading Ed Sustained Education Executive Network.
Willie Burroughs, the Council’s director of management services, praised Nielson for her dedication and effectiveness in enhancing staff recruitment and retention while modernizing the HR department. He noted her active involvement in sharing expertise with other urban school district HR leaders.
Nicola Soares, President of Kelly Education, commended Nielson's visionary leadership and her impact on hiring outcomes, emphasizing the broader positive effects on students and communities.
Nielson holds a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University, specializing in Human Resources, Labor, and Education Policy, and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College. Her career in education began with Teach For America, where she taught ninth-grade geography in Roma, Texas.
Reported by HarborBeat based on Kelly Services (source).
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