The Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and The Philadelphia (PA) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. hosted a virtual listening session to gather input from our members and the local community on the future of the next Superintendent in Philadelphia.

The School District of Philadelphia Board of Education is hosting a series of 17 listening sessions – in-person and virtual over 18 days across all Councilmanic Districts where the public is invited to weigh in on what they want to see in the next Superintendent.

The School District of Philadelphia Board of Education, The Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and The Philadelphia (PA) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. all provided facilitators for virtual breakout rooms to better hear, record and cultivate ideas, issues and hopes of over 100 registrants who care about the future of Philadelphia public schooling. Also, there were dedicated notetakers who provided minutes to make sure all perspectives were heard.

Delta Sigma Theta Soror Tiffany A. Wilson, started off the listening session with a welcome to the 73 attending participants and introductions of Dr. Penny Sparks Nixon, President of The Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Damian S. Jackson, Esq., Polemarch of The Philadelphia Alumni of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

“Education is the Civil Rights issue of our time.”
Dr. Penny Nixon, President
The Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

“The children are truly our future…We need great leadership”
Damian S. Jackson, Esq, Polemarch
The Philadelphia (PA) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Board Member Lisa Salley, a metallurgic Engineer and Business Executive then addressed the 75 assembled guests.

“This process could not be done practically or an effective way without the voice of the customer”

Lisa Salley

Board of Education

School Board Member Salley then displayed the timeline for the six (6) stage search and hiring process and indicated that a search firm would be announced for a complete search process as the attendee list grew to 86 guests.

COMPLETE the SURVEYClick here to Take the School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Search Survey

Board Member Salley indicated that listening sessions are the second stage of that process, will dictate the job description and indicated that the public may ask questions of the search committee directly via supersearch@philasd.org or philasd.org/schoolboard/search.

  1. September 2021 – Search Announced
  2. October 11-29, 2021 – Listening Sessions
  3. November 2021 – Final Job Description Released
  4. November/December 2021 – Superintendent Interviews
  5. January 2022 – Finalists Announced and Final Town Halls Held
  6. Spring 2022 – New Superintendent Announced

Immediately after Board Member Salley’s address, she fielded questions from the virtual floor. At 7:25pm, Tiffany Wilson posted a poll to get an idea of the makeup of the 87 attending guests.

At 7:30 pm We then moved to 4 different breakout rooms to better hear from concerned Parents, educators, community members and neighbors. All the attendees came back together and heard the summaries from our breakout rooms and then asked Board Member Salley additional questions.

Missed out on the Listening session? You can still provide your feedback! Click the button below and complete the Superintendent Search Survey!