BALTIMORE, Md. (AP) -- Gov. Martin O'Malley has joined Baltimore's mayor in announcing that Marnell A. Cooper has been appointed to the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners.

The governor's office said in a statement Thursday that he and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake also were jointly announcing two reappointments to the board: Robert W. Heck and David J. Stone.

O'Malley says the three are "strong Maryland leaders" with a commitment to the success of students and a commitment to education programs in the state.

Rawlings-Blake singled out Cooper for praise, saying in the statement that he was a product of Baltimore city public schools. She also noted that enrollment has risen and the dropout rate has fallen in Baltimore schools since 2007 -- and she looks for Cooper to build on those successes.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)