Appointees will participate in board training and a city-wide Listening Tour before beginning their service in July 2018.

(Philadelphia) – Mayor Kenney today announced his nine appointees to the Philadelphia Board of Education, which will assume governance over the School District of Philadelphia in July 2018. The appointees are:

• Julia Danzy
• Leticia Egea-Hinton
• Mallory Fix Lopez
• Lee Huang
• Maria McColgan
• Chris McGinley
• Angela McIver
• Wayne Walker
• Joyce Wilkerson

Mayor Kenney selected the new Board members from two lists, totaling 45 names, provided by the Educational Nominating Panel, who received over 500 nominations and applications earlier this year.

“As we reflect on the hard-won stability in our schools and the significance of regaining local control over the District, I am confident that this Board is ready for the challenge,” said Mayor Kenney. “These nine appointees share a vital passion for quality education for all Philadelphia’s children. Their different backgrounds and perspectives will guide them well as they make decisions that will ensure a better future for public education in Philadelphia. I thank them each for the time and effort they have agreed to dedicate to our city’s vision of creating quality schools in every neighborhood, and look forward to working with them in service of this goal.”

“The new Board of Education is a strong group of individuals with a passion for public education in Philadelphia,” said Superintendent Dr. William Hite. “They represent a tremendous cross section of Philadelphia and will be dedicated to making our public schools the very best they can be for our students, our families and our city.  I am excited to start working together to build on the progress our students and schools are making in early literacy, increased graduation rates and ensuring our schools are safe and welcoming environments for every child and every family in Philadelphia.”

The Board of Education will replace the School Reform Commission, which will dissolve on June 30. In the interim, the Board appointees will prepare for a smooth transition into governance. Beginning this month the appointees will participate in robust training, led by the Administration and School District, on topics such as Board roles and responsibilities, district finance, charter school authorizing, and much more.

Additionally, Board members will participate in a series of community listening sessions across the city. Students, parents, educators and residents are invited to attend these events and share their views on the challenges and opportunities facing public education in Philadelphia. Dates and times for the Listening Tour are:

Wednesday, April 25 (6-8 p.m.) at Dobbins CTE High School (2150 W. Lehigh Ave.)
Saturday, May 5 (2-4 p.m.) at South Philadelphia Library (1700 South Broad St.)
Thursday, May 10 (6-8 p.m.) at Blackwell Regional Library West (125 S. 52nd St.)
Friday, May 18 (6-8 p.m.) at Coleman Regional Library (68 W. Chelten Ave.)
Wednesday, May 23 (6-8 p.m.) at Northeast Regional Library (2228 Cottman Ave.)

More transition information about the Board of Education, including full biographies of the appointees and an up-to-date list of upcoming listening sessions, is available here.

The Mayor’s Comments about the new Board members:

Chris McGinley and Joyce Wilkerson
“I am grateful to both Joyce and Chris for the work they have done over the past year and a half on the School Reform Commission,” said Mayor Kenney. “Thanks to their leadership, the SRC voted to dissolve last November. Without them, we would not be here appointing a new board today. I welcome the role they will play in ensuring a smooth transition to local control. They have a unique understanding of the challenges the District faces, and a demonstrated commitment to making bold moves we need to embrace.”

Angela McIver
“Angela has a passion for math and for education,” said the Mayor. “When you hear her talk about it, you can see that she is the type of person who gets kids excited to learn about math. We talk a lot about preparing our kids for the tech jobs of today and tomorrow.  And that starts with a strong STEM education. I believe that Angela’s content knowledge and passion for quality education will make her a fantastic Board member.”

Mallory Fix Lopez
“Educator. Community Motivator, Entrepreneur. Mother. Neighbor. That’s how Mallory described herself in her Board application,” said Mayor Kenney. “She is a small business owner who believes every business should give back to their neighborhood school and puts her restaurant’s money where her mouth is. And she is a fierce advocate for her neighborhood school which her child will attend in 3 years. I look forward to her now serving as an advocate for quality schools in every neighborhood.”

Maria McColgan
“Maria’s career has always centered on children and education. Her experience as a teacher in Philadelphia public schools helped shape her passion for learning and education, and also led her into a second career as a pediatrician who has provided care for thousands of our most vulnerable children.”

Lee Huang
“As an economic consultant, Lee focuses on economic analysis, policy research, and organizational strategy — and articulates a clear vision of why the success of our education system is so important to the City’s overall success. In his application, Lee showed off his finance background by calculating the number of consecutive school years in which he and his wife would have at least one child the School District–23 years. I am certain Lee is committed to improving education for all students.”

Julia Danzy
“Julia’s career speaks to her expertise in the various systems that intersect with public schools to ensure the well-being of students,” said Mayor Kenney. “I believe this will make her a knowledgeable and strong advocate for children on the Board.”

Leticia Egea-Hinton
“Leticia brings a valuable social services perspective to the Board of Education,” said the Mayor. “She has been a public school parent and and will draw on her personal experience as well as her expertise in service of Philadelphia children.”

Wayne Walker
“When I heard about Wayne’s credentials, I was so impressed that I wondered if he would really be seriously interested. Then I learned that we had something in common–a Jesuit education which has taught us the importance of public service. I am so very glad that he will bring his expertise to public service and play an important role in the formation and success of the new Philadelphia Board of Education.”

Headshots of the appointees are available on request.