Sacked by Trump, Peggy Carr appointed to Maryland State Board of Education

Gov. Wes Moore gives the prominent education leader a spot on the state board representing Montgomery County.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Peggy Carr, who was abruptly fired from her national education job by the Trump administration, has been appointed to the Maryland State School Board by Gov. Wes Moore. Carr, known for her work building the National Assessment for Educational Progress, will represent Montgomery County on the state board.

Why it matters

Carr's appointment to the state school board comes at a critical time as Maryland transitions to a new set of student assessments. Her expertise in national education data and testing will be valuable as the board oversees this change.

The details

Carr spent 30 years at the National Center for Education Statistics, leading the agency for several years as the first Black person and woman to hold the top job. She was fired from this position abruptly by the Trump administration. Now, Gov. Wes Moore has appointed Carr to the volunteer position on the Maryland State School Board, where she will represent Montgomery County.

  • Carr was fired from her national education job by the Trump administration in the past year.
  • Maryland's state school board is transitioning to new student assessments in the next two years.

The players

Peggy Carr

A prominent education leader who spent 30 years at the National Center for Education Statistics, leading the agency for several years as the first Black person and woman to hold the top job. She was recently fired from this position by the Trump administration.

Gov. Wes Moore

The governor of Maryland who appointed Carr to the state school board.

Josh Michael

The president of the Maryland State School Board, who praised Carr's expertise in a statement.

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What they’re saying

“Few leaders know student achievement at a national level like Dr. Peggy Carr. After decades stewarding the Nation's Report Card, the nation's loss is Maryland's gain, and our board will benefit from her expertise from day one.”

— Josh Michael, School Board President (Text message)

What’s next

The state school board is transitioning to new student assessments in the next two years, and Carr's expertise will be valuable in overseeing this change.

The takeaway

Carr's appointment to the Maryland State School Board represents a comeback after being abruptly fired by the Trump administration from her prestigious national education role. Her deep expertise in education data and testing will be an asset as the state implements new student assessments.