Philadelphia School District Superintendent Tony Watlington Sr. is being honored by the District Administration Leadership Institute as the 2025 Superintendent of the Year, writes Chanel Hill for The Philadelphia Tribune.
“This recognition belongs to our entire school community,” Watlington wrote in a statement. “The progress we’ve made would not be possible without the collective dedication of the Board of Education, our staff, parents, students and unions. Together, we are shaping a brighter future.”
Watlington was appointed as the Philadelphia School District’s superintendent in 2022.
Since beginning his tenure, Philadelphia public school enrollments and graduation rates have both increased for the first time in a decade. That is in addition to test scores also increasing for students between 3rd and 8th grade.
Meanwhile, the number of student dropouts has also decreased by more than 1,400 students during his tenure.
Watlington has also led his team in reorganizing the district’s learning networks, launched a two-way communication and feedback platform, and also revamped the district’s curriculum through Accelerate Philly.
Philadelphia has the eighth largest school district in the nation with a total enrollment of 117,956 students for the 2024-25 academic year.
Read more about Tony Watlington’s tenure as superintendent and why he is being honored at The Philadelphia Tribune.
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