Alexandria Names Dr. Jharrett Bryantt as New Schools Superintendent; $310,000 Salary, February Start
Dr. Jharrett Bryantt, named Alexandria City Public Schools’ next superintendent, speaks during a meeting in Alaska. (Screenshot: Alaska’s News Source)
ALEXANDRIA, VA — The Alexandria City School Board announced October 8 that Dr. Jharrett Bryantt will be the next superintendent of Alexandria City Public Schools, beginning February 1, 2027.
Bryantt currently leads the Anchorage School District in Alaska, serving more than 40,000 students at more than 90 schools. ACPS says his contract runs through June 30, 2030, with an annual salary of $310,000.
How the Salary Compares
Bryantt’s $310,000 annual salary falls below recently reported superintendent pay in Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties. Those divisions, however, serve far more students than Alexandria. The figures provide regional context, but differences in enrollment, reporting years and compensation terms mean they are not a ranking of equivalent jobs or identical benefits packages.
| School division | Student enrollment | Reported annual amount | Date and basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County | More than 177,000 FCPS overview, accessed October 9, 2026 |
$469,936 | Annual salary in June 2026 contract, reported by FFXnow |
| Loudoun County | Approximately 80,000 2026–27 opening-of-school announcement |
$425,334 | Salary reported in July 2025 by Patch, citing Loudoun Now |
| Prince William County | 90,048 First semester, 2025–26 |
$414,324 | 2025 reported pay listed by GovSalaries; not independently confirmed as contract base salary |
| Alexandria City — Bryantt | More than 15,900 ACPS 2025–26 Fast Facts |
$310,000 | Annual salary announced by ACPS; begins February 1, 2027 |
These figures reflect the dates and sources shown, rather than a uniform current-year compensation survey. Benefits, deferred compensation and allowances may be additional. Arlington is omitted because a comparable salary figure for its renewed contract could not be verified.
What Alexandria’s Previous Superintendents Earned
Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt’s permanent appointment in May 2023 carried a starting annual salary of $265,000, according to contemporaneous reporting by Patch. Bryantt’s starting salary is $45,000, or about 17%, higher than that starting figure. GovSalaries lists Kay-Wyatt’s 2025 annual wage as $298,243, placing Bryantt’s announced salary $11,757, or about 3.9%, above that reported amount.
Dr. Gregory Hutchings Jr.’s initial 2018 base salary was $236,000, with a separate $27,000 annual retirement contribution, according to the Alexandria Gazette Packet’s reporting on superintendent contracts. GovSalaries lists his 2022 annual wage as $354,439. That payroll figure should not be described as his contractual base salary or as excluding departure-related payments without a detailed breakdown. The historical amounts are not adjusted for inflation.
Putting Teacher Pay in the Picture
For classroom context, ACPS’s published 2026–27 teacher salary scale starts at $57,924.75 for a teacher with a bachelor’s degree on a 195-day contract and $65,800.80 for a teacher with a master’s degree on the same schedule. Bryantt’s annual salary is approximately 5.4 times the first figure and 4.7 times the second.
These are comparisons of annual pay, not hourly rates: teacher contract lengths and a superintendent’s year-round responsibilities differ. Teachers’ salaries also rise with experience and education. The comparison shows the substantial gap between entry-level classroom pay and district leadership pay; regional superintendent salaries alone do not establish whether teachers are adequately compensated.
What Bryantt Says About Alexandria
“I am deeply honored by the opportunity to serve the students, staff, families and community of Alexandria,” Bryantt said in the ACPS announcement. “Throughout the interview process, I have been struck by how deeply this community cares about its public schools and by the pride Alexandria takes in its diversity, its staff, and its young people.”
He said he looks forward to listening, learning and building relationships as he prepares to lead the school division.
Experience in Anchorage and Houston
Bryantt has led Anchorage schools since July 2022. ACPS cited his work on early literacy, academic achievement and the Academies of Anchorage, a career-connected learning initiative with more than 200 business and community partners. Previously, he held senior roles in Houston Independent School District, including assistant superintendent and executive officer of talent. He began his education career as a high school mathematics teacher.
Bryantt holds a psychology bachelor’s degree from Yale University and master’s and doctoral degrees in education leadership and policy from the University of Texas at Austin. He also completed national superintendent certification and education finance training.
A National Search
The School Board conducted a national search with Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates and gathered input from students, families, employees and community members.
School Board Chair Christopher Harris said Bryantt’s experience leading a diverse district and expanding postsecondary opportunities aligns with ACPS priorities. “We look forward to partnering with him, our students, staff, families and community as we continue moving our school division forward,” Harris said.
ACPS serves more than 15,900 students across 18 schools. The division said additional information about the leadership transition will be shared before Bryantt takes office.
Source: Alexandria City Public Schools news release, October 8, 2026.
