The Philadelphia School District has renamed its headquarters in honor of Constance Clayton, the trailblazing former Superintendent, writes Mike DeNardo for KYW Newsradio.

Since it opened, the school headquarters in Spring Garden had only been named by its address, 440 North Broad Street.

The Philadelphia Board of Education voted unanimously to rename the building the Constance E. Clayton Education Center.

Clayton was Philadelphia’s longest-serving superintendent, serving from 1982 to 1993. She was also the first Black woman to run the city’s school system.

Deidre Farmby, a former district administrator, said remaining the building after Clayton is a strong way to honor her legacy and highlight the impact she had on Philly children.

“For me, Dr. Constance E. Clayton — my friend, mentor and former boss — will never truly be gone,” she said. 

According to Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan, Clayton often ended her speeches saying, “Always remember the children come first.”

That was always her approach as superintendent, and what made her successful.

Clayton passed away last September at the age of 90.

The district is planning to host an official naming ceremony to honor Clayton in the future. 

Read more about the Philadelphia School District’s way of honoring a trailblazer in KYW Newsradio.

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