The Birmingham Board of Education on Tuesday gave Superintendent Mark Sullivan a favorable annual review in an evaluation weighted heavily toward measurable outcomes for students and Birmingham City Schools.

Board member Leticia Harvill, who chairs the superintendent's evaluation committee, said Sullivan met expectations on both the district's measurable achievements and the more subjective assessments of his leadership. The board gave him an overall score of 3.1 on a 4-point scale.

Objective measures account for 70% of the score and are based on progress toward the district's strategic plan goals involving academic achievement, student well-being, staff effectiveness, customer service and accountability. The remaining 30% reflects a subjective review of how Sullivan manages personnel, works with the community and carries out his duties based on standards established by the Alabama Association of School Boards.

"Our board sets higher expectations than most school boards, and this evaluation is how we hold a superintendent to them," Board President Sherman Collins said. "Dr. Sullivan continues to meet and in many cases exceed our expectations. What stands out is his ability to bring parents, employees and community partners into the work for the benefit of our students."

Dr. Sullivan said he appreciates the board’s confidence and its continued support for improvements and innovation in Birmingham City Schools.

"Nobody leads a system this large and complex alone," he said. "A board that sets a higher standard gives us something to aim at, and our teachers, principals and families are doing the hard work every day to ensure we hit those targets. And we're not finished yet."

Sullivan, a graduate of Birmingham City Schools, has worked in the district for more than 25 years and has served as superintendent since 2020.