Dr. Mark Sullivan’s journey from a student in the Birmingham City School system to its top leader is a full-circle story of dedication, resilience, and transformative leadership.

Raised in Birmingham, Alabama, he graduated from Woodlawn High School and went on to pursue a career in education rooted in his passion for service and community uplift. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Alabama A&M University, Sullivan continued his academic journey with a Master’s in Education from Alabama State University, and both an Educational Specialist degree and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Dr. Sullivan’s career has taken him through every level of the school system, planting the seeds of academic success for Birmingham’s children. From teaching fifth-graders Dupuy Elementary and math at Center Street Middle School to serving as principal at Spaulding Elementary, Glen Iris, Phillips Academy, and Ramsay High School and interim principal at Elyton Elementary, he has built a reputation for improving outcomes and building strong school cultures. For example his leadership at Spaulding helped the school reach “academic clear” status, a notable turnaround.

As he transitioned into district-level roles, Dr. Sullivan continued to impact student achievement on a broader scale. He served as Academic Officer, Interim Assistant Superintendent, Director of Area III, and Director of K–8 Operations, before becoming Chief of Staff.

In May 2020—and in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic—he was named interim superintendent. By August of that year, the school board officially appointed him to lead the district. During a global health crisis, Dr. Sullivan worked tirelessly to ensure that students had access to technology, meals, and instruction.

His vision has extended beyond survival. Under his leadership, Birmingham City Schools began a steady recovery. Math proficiency in the district nearly tripled between 2021 and 2023, rising from just 4% to 19%. Third-grade reading proficiency jumped from 50% to 81%. Chronic absenteeism dropped, and student engagement increased thanks to initiatives like intersession learning, personalized academic interventions, and mental health supports.

The district’s recovery from the pandemic has become a template for pandemic learning recovery, receiving national attention. In early 2024, The New York Times captured this transformation, spotlighting Birmingham as one of the rare districts beating pre‑pandemic learning levels. Forbes praised the district’s “strategic, innovative, and effective initiatives,” including intersessions during traditional breaks, high‑dose tutoring funded with federal relief, after‑school care, and partnerships to reduce truancy. Meanwhile, the Education Recovery Scorecard—a project backed by Harvard, Stanford, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York—ranked BCS among the nation’s elite.

Central to his strategy is the district’s five-year plan, “Success Starts Here,” which outlines a clear roadmap for academic excellence, student well-being, staff effectiveness, and community accountability. Dr. Sullivan expanded access to dual enrollment, internships, and post-secondary preparation. But more than numbers or accolades, it is his visibility—his regular school visits, community dialogues, and focus on every student—that defines his leadership.

Outside of education, Dr. Sullivan retired from the U.S. Navy Reserve, having served for 24 years. He is active in organizations like Alpha Phi Alpha, Rotary Club, National Association of Black School Educators and Kiwanis.

His personal commitment to leadership and mentorship extends into every corner of the community. Dr. Sullivan often says that his greatest inspiration is his daughter Morgan and son M.J. They remind him daily of the responsibility he holds—not just to lead, but to uplift every child in the Birmingham City Schools system.

Dr. Sullivan continues to serve with unwavering commitment, working to ensure that every Birmingham student is prepared for success in college, career, and life. His legacy is not just in rising test scores, but in a reenergized belief in what Birmingham’s schools—and students—can achieve.