Michael Martirano, the state schools superintendent in West Virginia, will resign his post come June 30 to move closer to his family in Maryland.
He was named schools chief in September 2014.
A former science teacher, Martirano previously worked in a number of districts in Maryland, including as the superintendent of the St. Mary’s County school system.
Veronica Garcia, a former secretary of education in New Mexico, has been named superintendent of the Santa Fe district.
She served as education secretary under former Gov. Bill Richardson before leading the advocacy group New Mexico Voices for Children.
Garcia also has worked as a teacher and as an administrator in the Albuquerque district.