Pittsburgh Public Schools taps Wayne Walters as superintendent

Wayne Walters, who has been working as interim superintendent, will become the permanent head of Pittsburgh Public Schools after a national search concluded he remained the top candidate to fill the role, school board officials said Thursday.

School board President Sala Udin pointed to Walters’ “career-long dedication to high standards,” in celebrating the decision during a news conference.

“People who know him know that he has incredibly high standards for students regarding academic achievement and integrity,” she said.

Walters said he would continue to lead in a manner that is “unapologetically students first.”

“I am a proud product of public education, and it changed my life,” Walters said.

Walters called on families of Pittsburgh Public Schools students and the community at large to do their part to help students. He and Mayor Ed Gainey said the city and school district would work together to ensure the best outcomes for students.

“The education of our future generation is a collaborative effort that our district cannot do alone,” Walters said.

Gainey said he would work with Walters “every step of the way.”

“We got it right,” the mayor said of the choice to keep Walters in the superintendent role permanently. “I think that the wisdom of the journey, of climbing the hill of education puts you in a position to lead. That is embodied in Dr. Walters.”

Wayne Walters, who has been serving as interim superintendent since last fall, will serve as the superintendent for Pittsburgh Public Schools, district officials announced. pic.twitter.com/JqhNn4dL6F

— Julia Felton (@JuliaFelton16) July 21, 2022

Former Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Anthony Hamlet resigned in October after the Pennsylvania Ethics Commission found he had violated state ethics laws in his travel expense reports, accepted cash for speeches and failed to make required financial disclosures between 2016 and 2018.

Related:

• Commission: Pittsburgh schools Superintendent Hamlet violated Ethics Act

• Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Anthony Hamlet resigns

• Pittsburgh Public Schools names longtime administrator as interim superintendent

The district in September announced that Walters would serve as the interim superintendent while officials conducted a national search for a permanent superintendent.

The nationwide search by consulting firm BWP & Associates yielded applicants from 13 states and one other country, officials said. The search consultant returned a list of five finalists in late June, and the board ultimately decided upon Walters. His permanent role becomes official Aug. 1.

Udin said the board is expected to approve the appointment for a five-year term at its July 27 legislative meeting.

Walters said in a statement he remains “unapologetically student-centered” and committed to students, staff and families in the district.

“I know firsthand the many challenges our district faces, but I believe competence, confidence and collaboration go a long way in creating quality, equitable, well-rounded experiences and spaces of learning and joy for our students,” he said.

Walters said he will work to address literacy challenges in the district, boost morale among employees and improve transportation for students.

Walters had been an assistant superintendent since 2017. Prior to that, he was the principal at Barack Obama Academy of International Studies 6-12 since its 2009 inception. He was also principal of the Frick International Studies Academy 6-8 from 2000-2008 and assistant principal of Northview Heights Elementary School from 1999-2000.

Walters began working for Pittsburgh Public Schools in 1991 as a teacher at King Elementary School in the North Side.

A native of Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands, Walters, 51, came to Pittsburgh at age 16 to study music at Carnegie Mellon University and has lived in the city since.

In the process of hiring a new superintendent, the school board considered 29 candidates from around the country and one from abroad, Udin said.

“Dr. Walters came through the competition very quickly,” Udin said.

He declined to comment on other finalists considered for the position.

Accomplishments

The school district cited some of Walters’ accomplishments as interim superintendent:

• Implementing the “A Fresh Start for the Head and Heart” program, an initiative that aimed to create a positive school culture
• Addressing obstacles in transportation and technology distribution
• Prioritizing the health and safety of students and staff in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic
• Expanding the district’s leadership team
• Creating relationships with members of the school board and the mayor’s office
• Ensuring students’ voices were considered in decision making