Honoring and congratulating School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Dr. Tony Watlington for being recognized as Superintendent of the Year by the District Administration Leadership Institute.

WHEREAS, Dr. Tony Watlington Sr., Superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia, has been named the 2025 Superintendent of the Year by the District Administration Leadership Institute; and

WHEREAS, The District Administration Leadership Institute is the leading national PreK-12 organization that provides leadership development opportunities for superintendents, district leaders, and senior staff across the United States; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Watlington graduated as a first-generation student from North Carolina A&T State University with a Bachelor of Science in History Education. He later earned a master’s degree in American political history from Ohio State, a master’s degree in School Administration in Educational Leadership from the University of North Carolina, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Watlington became Superintendent of the Philadelphia School District in June 2022, the Philadelphia School District, the eighth largest school district in the country, serving more than 100,000 students; and

WHEREAS, Under his leadership, Philadelphia’s public schools have achieved the highest enrollment and graduation rates in a decade, improved standardized test scores, and reduced student dropout rates by more than 1,400 students; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Watlington and his team reorganized the district’s learning networks, launched a two-way communication and feedback platform, and revamped the district’s curriculum through the five-year strategic plan “Accelerate Philly”; and

WHEREAS, Research done by Harvard University’s Center for Education Policy Research and The Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University have shown that the Philadelphia school district outpaces other large urban districts nationwide and similar districts in Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, Amy Dujon, Vice President, Education Media and Summits with the District Administration Leadership Institute, praised Watlington, stating “Tony Watlington has exemplified what it means to lead with integrity, vision, and impact,”; and

WHEREAS, The people of Philadelphia are lucky to have Dr. Watlington at the helm of the School District, ensuring a brighter future for the students of our great City; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Honors and congratulates School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Dr. Tony Watlington for being recognized as Superintendent of the Year by the District Administration Leadership Institute.

FURTHER BE RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Tony Watlington as a token of the sincere admiration of this legislative body.

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