The Search Is On
Dr. William Hite, Jr. isn’t renewing his contract with the School District of Philadelphia, but he’ll remain the Superintendent until August 2022. The search for his replacement, however, is starting now.
Just a day after the announcement that Hite is leaving, the district laid out a timeline and the steps it’s taking to find the right person for the job.
The Timeline
The Board of Education will host 17 listening sessions, in-person and virtual between October 11th and 29th. The public is invited to weigh in on what they want to see in the next Superintendent and what skills they should bring to the table. A full list of dates and times will be released on Monday, October 4th so keep an eye on the district website.
The board will use feedback from the listening sessions to create the Superintendent job description.
A final job description will be released in November and candidate interviews will begin. The interview process is expected to last through December.
The board is also creating an 11-member Superintendent Search Advisory Committee. It will include:
- One current SDP teacher
- One current SDP principal
- Two current guardians of district students
- Two current students
- Participants from the local charter school community, organized labor, higher education, business, and education advocacy
The Search Committee will conduct confidential interviews with five finalist candidates. Its review and evaluations will help inform the Board’s decision making process.
In January Superintendent finalists will be announced and Town Hall Meetings will be held.
The Search Committee will conduct confidential interviews with five finalists. Its review and evaluations will be a part of the Board’s decision making process.
A new superintendent will be named on February 1st.
The Board is asking Philadelphia families to fill out a survey to let board members know what is important to them. It only takes five minutes to complete.
