Debra Y. Brooks, Ed.D. was appointed to serve as Director of the Mayor’s Office of Children and Family Success (MOCFS) in July 2022. In this role, Dr. Brooks is responsible for bringing together the tools of City government, Baltimore’s collective love for children, and the vast assets of our communities to radically improve the lives of Baltimore’s children and families through advocacy, policymaking, and programmatic initiatives around MOCFS’s core values:
- Increasing early childhood development;
- Decreasing youth food insecurity;
- Decreasing youth homelessness;
- Increasing youth literacy;
- Improving trauma-informed care for youth;
- Advancing youth diversion practices;
- And breaking down historical barriers to success for Black boys and young men.
Dr. Brooks has more than 30 years of experience in education. She has served as a teacher, elementary and middle school building leader and Central Office administrator. Prior to joining the Scott Administration, she was the Executive Director of Special Education for Baltimore City Public Schools where she was a staunch advocate for students living with disabilities.She earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, a Master of Science in special Education from Coppin State College and a Doctorate in Education with a specialization in Higher Education from Morgan State University.
Dr. Brooks values the importance of student voice and self-advocacy. She believes that all students are capable of achieving greatness when given the appropriate supports and services while attending school and transitioning to post-secondary opportunities.
Most importantly, Dr. Brooks is a proud resident of Baltimore City. She has three adult daughters who graduated from Baltimore City Public Schools and is a grandmother of seven, four currently attending City Schools.
