COLUMBIA - When you call the public information office of the Howard County Department of Education and ask Barbara Colby for information about Dr. Michael Martirano, she gives what sounds like a sigh of regret. “You're going to get him,” she says. “We're going to miss Mike. He's such a nice man.”

When Dr. Martirano met with reporters he was competent and professional. Nevertheless, this “nice man” side of him managed to peep through occasionally, as when he responded to a question about closing the “education gap” by saying in part,”They are individual precious children we are talking about,” or when he admitted, “I don't know everything.”

“Dr. Nancy Grasmick, State Superintendent of Schools has approved Dr. Martirano's contract,” said Bill Reinhard of the Maryland State Department of Education. Grasmick's approval is required by state law before the hiring of any local Superintendent of Schools in Maryland.

St. Mary's County Board of Education Vice President Sal Raspa said the contract with Dr. Martirano is nearly complete. “We are waiting for one more e-mail and the contract will be complete,” he said. Raspa noted that it was unusual to have so many diverse groups choose the same candidate. “Usually one or two will disagree,” he noted, “but everyone agreed on this candidate.” Once the signed contract is in completed, Dr. Martirano will officially take office as Superintendent of Schools on July 1. The effective date of the contract is also specified by state law.

Dr. Martirano has been a middle school teacher, served as principal of two brand new elementary schools which he opened in two different school systems (Montgomery and Prince Georges), served as Principal of Laurel High School, and now is Director of School Administration for the Howard County Department of Education. He currently serves on the faculty of Johns Hopkins University. Presently, he lives in Columbia, Maryland with his wife Silvana and their three children, Maria (17), Vincent (12), and Gina (10).