Guadalupe Guerrero, the superintendent of Oregon’s Portland Public Schools, was recently named the Superintendent of the Year by the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS).

Guerrero has been at the helm of the Portland school district, the largest school system in Oregon, since 2017 and during his tenure, the district has made increases in graduation rates, moved toward comprehensive middle schools and in 2020, voters approved a $1.2-billion bond to fund health and safety projects, replace textbooks and technology equipment and modernize several high schools. 

Guerrero, the Portland school system’s first Hispanic superintendent, is committed to ensuring racial equity for students of color, with the district making a concerted effort toward a Racial Equity and Social Justice agenda.

“Superintendent Guerrero has been the right leader for the district during a pivotal time in our city’s fight for racial equity and social justice,” school board chair Michelle DePass said in a news release.

Before becoming to Portland, Guerrero held jobs in Boston Public Schools and the San Francisco Unified School District, including the position of deputy superintendent of instruction, innovation and social justice. A classically trained violinist, Guerrero was a music education major before changing his major to history because he wanted to work in education.

Also, receiving recognition from ALAS was Dallas Schools Superintendent Michael Hinojosa and Miami Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. They were recipients of the ALAS National Humanitarian Award.

Philly Leader Stepping Down

William Hite, superintendent of The School District of Philadelphia, recently announced he will step down after his contract expires in August 2022. Hite has served at the helm of Pennsylvania’s largest school district since 2012.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Hite will leave as one of the longest-tenured superintendents in the history of the 202,944-student school district.  

Under Hite’s leadership, the district’s finances improved and the school board resumed control of the district after nearly two decades under the state-imposed School Reform Commission. The district also opened new innovative high schools, experienced higher graduation rates, increased the number of students taking Advance Placement and dual-enrollment courses and redesigned schools in partnership with communities.

In addition, the district recently established an anti-racism initiative requiring anti-racism and bias training for all students and staff and the school board approved the Goals & Guardrails Initiative, a five-year plan to improve student learning and achievement.

In a news release, school board president Joyce Wilkerson praised Hite for his strong and stable leadership.

 “Through his work, we have been able to return the District to local control, usher in a period of fiscal stability, and put the academic achievement of our students at the forefront,” said Wilkerson. “We are grateful that he will continue to lead the District this year, keeping school buildings safely open for our students, and helping us as we begin the search process for his replacement.”

Interim Superintendent in Palm Beach to Take Helm

When Donald Fennoy stepped down as superintendent of the School District of Palm Beach County in Florida in July, Mike Burke, the district’s chief financial officer, was named interim leader while a national search was conducted. 

School board members have been so pleased with Burke’s performance during his two months in the top position that they recently ended the search and voted to negotiate a new contract with Burke to lead the district permanently as superintendent. 

“I think we have the right person in the right seat right now with the right demeanor, with the right knowledge, with the right expertise,” said board member Karen Brill in the Palm Beach Post.

Burke joined the Palm Beach School system in 1998 as budget director and also served as chief operating officer. As CFO he was responsible for the district’s financial management and information technology divisions. In 2014, Burke received the Bill Wise Award for his leadership from the Council of the Great City Schools at its annual conference of chief financial officers.

New Leaders in San Antonio and Pittsburgh

Texas’ San Antonio Independent School District recently named veteran educator Robert Jaklich as interim leader of the 47,00-student school district. Jaklich, who has served as the superintendent of two neighboring school systems, succeeds Pedro Martinez, who was recently named the chief executive officer for Chicago Public Schools.

Also selecting an interim superintendent was Pittsburgh Public Schools, which recently named Wayne Walters as the interim leader for one year or until a permanent superintendent is hired and on board.  Walters, who succeeds Anthony Hamlet, has worked his entire professional career for the 21,603-student school system. He most recently served as an assistant superintendent of professional development and special programming, where he was responsible for leading the development of professional development plans for teachers, school leaders, aspiring leaders, and central office staff.

In 2017, Walters was named to this new position after a report by the Council of the Great City Schools highlighted the district’s lack of a professional development plan.