Tony Watlington named next superintendent for the School District of Philadelphia

He’s at the moment Superintendent of the Rowan-Salisbury Faculties in North Carolina.

Watlington will take over from Dr. William Hite on June 16.

“I simply need you to know that I get up each morning asking myself one query, similar to the Masai individuals in east Africa, who greet one another – even warriors – each morning with this query, and that query is: How are the kids?” Watlington stated throughout a information convention Friday morning.

The board’s search committee offered the next background about Watlington:

Watlington has 27 years of academic expertise with particular experience in educational management and shutting scholar achievement gaps, organizational effectivity and monetary administration, recruitment, and improvement of robust government management, growing college/group/college partnerships, and fairness training.

He has served in numerous positions over the course of his profession, together with as a highschool instructor, assistant principal, and principal.

Rowan-Salisbury Faculties is North Carolina’s first and solely Renewal Faculty District, serving over 18,000 college students throughout 33 faculties.

The district’s scholar inhabitants is 54% white, 20% Hispanic, 18% Black, 8% different racial teams, and 67% of the scholars qualify without spending a dime or diminished priced lunch.

His skilled achievements embody: the event of the district’s strategic plan, “Renewal 2027,” which is targeted on educational expertise/early literacy, interpersonal expertise, scholar passions and distinctive life objectives, human capital, operational effectivity, and father or mother and group engagement; rising the district’s third-grade literacy rating from 96 in 2019 to 74 in 2021 amongst 115 college districts; and rising the p.c of faculties that meet or exceed state development targets from 55% to 71%.

Previous to becoming a member of Rowan-Salisbury Faculties, Watlington served as Chief of Faculties in Guilford County Faculties, a district serving over 72,000 college students.

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The Board of Schooling is about to call the following superintendent for the Faculty District of Philadelphia on Friday morning.

The college board has narrowed their search to 3 finalists: John Davis Jr., the chief of faculties for Baltimore Metropolis Public Faculties; Krish Mohip, the deputy training officer for the Illinois State Board of Schooling; and Dr. Tony Watlington Sr., the superintendent of Rowan-Salisbury Faculty.

In mid-March, all three finalists got here to Philadelphia the place they met with members of the group together with college students, mother and father and district officers.

The brand new selection will change present superintendent Dr. William Hite after a six-month search.

Philadelphia Faculty District Superintendent Dr. Hite is not going to renew contract at finish of faculty yr

Hite will likely be becoming a member of Cincinnati-based non-profit Knowledgeworks as its president and CEO efficient July 1.

Hite has served as superintendent in Philadelphia for 10 years.
“I’ve had the large honor and privilege to function superintendent of the Faculty District of Philadelphia – to work alongside you and plenty of of my colleagues, and help our lovely and proficient and younger youngsters that we serve. After a lot reflection, I’ve determined to not renew my contract,” Hite stated in a video message in September.
The announcement is anticipated to happen at 9:30 a.m.

Mayor Jim Kenney is scheduled to be in attendance.

You’ll find extra details about the finalists on the district’s web site.