Dr. William R. Hite Jr. will be the new Superintendent/CEO of the Philadelphia School District. The Philadelphia School Reform Commission (SRC) made both the selection and the announcement.
Dr. Hite is currently the superintendent of Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland.
PGCPS is Maryland’s second largest school system and the 18th largest in the nation with 135,000 students, 200 schools and $1.6 billion budget.
“Today, we take a giant step toward providing safe, high quality educational opportunities for all Philadelphia children,” said SRC Chairman Pedro A. Ramos. “Dr. Hite is an eminent educator and a proven transformative leader.”
Mayor Michael Nutter said the following about Dr. Hite:
I was very impressed with Dr. Hite’s passion and commitment to educating children, support for the professional development of teachers and principals, and his dedication to working with the broader Philadelphia community. He understands that a high performing, high expectation system of schools is critical to the future of the City of Philadelphia. I would like to thank Wendell Pritchett for leading this effort by chairing the search committee and to all of the members of the community who attended meetings, offered advice and were involved in this thorough process.
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“Philadelphia is one of America’s greatest cities, and I am excited about the opportunities that it offers," said Hite. "I look forward to working with the leaders and families of this city as we work to improve the lives of our youth."
The SRC says they will make Hite’s contract public as soon as it is finalized. His start date has not yet been determined.
Former Philadelphia school superintendent Arlene Ackerman stepped down in August of 2011 after her contract was bought out for over $900,000.
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