PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The School District of Philadelphia’s new superintendent has announced a transition team led by the heads of the Urban League of Philadelphia and Community College of Philadelphia, as well as nearly 100 diverse members of the community.
“It’s action-packed, but this team is really up for the charge and I totally trust this process,” said Superintendent Tony Watlington, who was chosen in May over finalists from Baltimore and Illinois and sworn in last month.
His priorities for the first 100 days on the job include a listening and learning phase that has been well underway, with 80 sessions planned.
The second phase will involve a team led by two co-chairs, Urban League of Philadelphia President Andrea Custis and CCP President Dr. Guy Generals.
“We spent time early on talking with a lot of people, getting lots of information about who some key individuals in the school district are, who are doing good work to partner with and support the district, who have that kind of that name recognition and respect,” said Watlington.
Related
“Miss Custis and Dr. Generals just elevated to the very top of that list.”
“I am a strong advocate of public education because I believe, other than love, the greatest gift that we can give our children is education,” Custis said. She has served as president of the Urban League of Philadelphia for five years.
“We will ascertain strengths and challenges, and begin working on making recommendations for confronting the challenges and leveraging opportunities to improve student, school, and district performance,” added Generals, who is in his eighth year leading CCP.
Related
Watlington said more than 80 members of the community including parents, teachers, business leaders, unions, and non-profit organizations will take part in subcommittees addressing five key areas of student achievement, operations, anti-racist district culture, community engagement and communications, and enriching and well-rounded school experiences.
The third phase is to develop a strategic plan for the spring of 2023. That is likely to take place over the next couple of months.
A Tennessee-based consulting firm, which is receiving a $450,000 contract, is also aiding the new superintendent’s onboarding process, a move approved by the Board of Education. Former Nashville superintendent Shawn Joseph runs the firm.
Related
During a June interview with KYW Newsradio, Watlington said his long-term plans for the district center on assessing student and staff well-being, rebuilding trust, assessing teaching and learning, evaluating district leadership, and taking stock of district facilities, finances, and operations.
He inherits a district of about 200,000 students, where only 32% of third graders are reading at the third-grade level.