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Dr. Wayne N. Walters – Superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools On July 21, 2022, the Pittsburgh Board of Education announced that Dr. Wayne N. Walters will serve as Superintendent of Pittsburgh Public Schools. Dr. Walters assumed the top leadership post on August 1, 2022, following the 10-month period where he served as interim Superintendent.
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Priority Goal #4 Design effective organizational systems
About
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Dr. Walters has worked his entire professional career for the Pittsburgh Public Schools and has more than 30 years of experience with PPS, the second-largest public school system in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He has experience as a Teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal, Assistant Superintendent of 6-12 Schools, Assistant Superintendent of Professional Development and Special Programming, and served as interim Superintendent until assuming the role of Superintendent on August 1, 2022.
Growing up in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, Dr. Walters came to Pittsburgh when he was 16 to attend Carnegie Mellon University, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in music performance/music education in 1990. At age 21, he started his first teaching position at King Elementary on Pittsburgh’s North Side. By 1998, he received a Master's degree in Music Education/Technology from Duquesne University; and earned a Doctor of Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2007.
Following his role as Assistant Principal of Northview Heights Elementary (1999-2000), Dr. Walters served as Principal of the Frick International Studies Academy 6-8 (2000-2008). He then served as the first Principal of Pittsburgh Barack Obama Academy of International Studies, leading the transition of the premier 6-12 magnet school in its current East Liberty location. In 2014, Dr. Walters also became Assistant Superintendent of 6-12 schools while remaining principal of Pittsburgh Obama. In 2017, the certified trainer and facilitator became Assistant Superintendent of Professional Development and Special Programming, leading the implementation of professional development plans for teachers, administrators, and central office staff.
Dr. Walters has a passion for working directly with students with the goal of making an impact on their lives through education. When asked about his proudest achievement, Dr. Walters says without hesitancy: “It’s what I have been able to do for students.” He pursued the permanent Superintendent position because, “I remain unapologetically student-centered, committed, and passionate about our students, teachers, staff, and families of the Pittsburgh Public Schools. I know firsthand the many challenges our District faces, but I believe competence, confidence, and collaboration go a long way in creating quality, equity, well-rounded experiences and spaces of learning and joy for our students. I am genuinely excited about the tremendous opportunities ahead.”
Key Accomplishments
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- Initiated the “A Fresh Start for the Head and Heart” program designed to create a positive school culture while developing systems and instruction to invigorate teaching, learning, and leadership across the District;
- Addressed and remedied transportation and technology distribution challenges within the first month of leading the District, and offered professional learning opportunities in trauma-informed care, and content-specific and special education topics;
- Managed the health and safety of students and staff while maintaining efficient and effective operations and educational delivery during the ever-changing dynamics of a pandemic;
- Supervised and coached all administrative chiefs and assistant superintendents in alignment with the District’s Theory of Action by outlining expectations for a highperformance culture, developing and communicating coherent systems, and coordinating and supporting instruction with an equity focus;
- Invested in resources, programming, and strategies to attract and retain employees, strengthen the development of teacher leaders and aspiring principals;
- Designed and facilitated leadership retreats to build the capacity and clarity of the work of assistant superintendents as principal supervisors associated with processes and supports in alignment with PA Act 13 expectations;
- Worked to develop positive Administration-Board relationships that are collaborative, productive, and effective;
- Expanded the Leadership Team beyond administrative chiefs to include communication leads, assistant superintendents, and the Equity Director to allow additional perspectives, eliminate departmental and hierarchical silos, and create interdependent collaboration with the goal of fostering a culture that elevates quality teaching and learning for all students;
- Implemented a strategic planning process with the Leadership Team to develop systems that address and advance organizational cohesion in our District;
- Elevated and expanded opportunities for students’ voices to inform decision-making;
- Created protocols to improve consistent internal and external communication by developing a streamlined process and sequence for communicating with all stakeholder groups; and
- Developed core relationships and new partnerships with the Mayor’s office, surrounding universities, community-based groups, and the philanthropic community to garner support to advance the District’s mission, vision, and strategic goals.
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2023-2024 STUDENT OUTCOME GOALS
Please see student outcome goals that have been identified for the 23-24 school year pending board approval. These student outcome goals were approved by the Board of Directors for the 22-23 school year. As the student outcome goals are based on a five-year continuum, the proposed student outcome goals have remained the same.
In the academic areas (PSSA Math, ELA Science and Keystone Algebra, Literature, Biology), the identified student outcome goals address overall student outcomes as well as racial and disability disparities. As the district works to create a new five-year strategic plan, the proposed student outcome goals may warrant revision.
Click each icon below to learn more!
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Mathematics
Mathematics
By the end of the 26-27 school year, 33.46% of students in grades 3-8 will be proficient on the state’s PSSA Mathematics assessment. At the end of the 20-21 school year, 13.5% of students in grades 3-8 were proficient.
By the end of the 26-27 school year, racial achievement disparities between African American and white students in grades 3-8 based on proficiency on the state’s PSSA Mathematics assessment will decrease to 19.34%. At the end of the 20-21 school year, the racial achievement disparity between African American and white students in grades 3-8 who were proficient was 25.14%.
By the end of the 26-27 school year, 29.70% of students with IEPs in grades 3-8 will be proficient on the state’s PSSA Mathematics assessment. At the end of the 20-21 school year, 8.61% of students in grades 3-8 were proficient.
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English Language Arts
English Language Arts
By the end of the 26-27 school year, 51.77% of students in grades 3-8 will be proficient on the state’s PSSA English Language Arts assessment. At the end of the 20-21 school year, 37.30% of students in grades 3-8 were proficient.
By the end of the 26-27 school year, racial achievement disparities between African American and white students in grades 3-8 based on proficiency on the state’s PSSA English Language Arts assessment will decrease to 29.38%. At the end of the 20-21 school year, the racial achievement disparity between African American and white students in grades 3-8 who were proficient was 38.19%.
By the end of the 26-27 school year, 36.05% of students with IEPs in grades 3-8 will be proficient on the state’s PSSA English Language Arts assessment. At the end of the 20-21 school year, 16.86% of students in grades 3-8 were proficient.
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Science
Science
By the end of the 26-27 school year, 53.46% of students in grades 4 and 8 will be proficient on the state’s PSSA Science assessment. At the end of the 20-21 school year, 39.50% of students in grades 4 and 8 were proficient.
By the end of the 26-27 school year, racial achievement disparities between African American and white students in grades 4 and 8 based on proficiency on the state’s PSSA Science assessment will decrease to 27.78%. At the end of the 20-21 school year, the racial achievement disparity between African American and white students in grades 4 and 8 who were proficient was 36.11%.
By the end of the 26-27 school year, 39.45% of students with IEPs in grades 4 and 8 will be proficient on the state’s PSSA Science assessment. At the end of the 20-21 school year, 21.29% of students in grades 4 and 8 were proficient.
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Algebra
Algebra
By the end of the 26-27 school year, 58.91% of applicable high school students will be proficient on the state’s Keystone Algebra assessment. At the end of the 20-21 school year, 46.59% of applicable high school students were proficient.
By the end of the 26-27 school year, racial achievement disparities between applicable African American and white high school students on the state’s Keystone Algebra assessment will decrease to 30.10%. At the end of the 20-21 school year, the racial achievement disparity between applicable African American and white high school students who were proficient was 39.13%.
By the end of the 26-27 school year, 40.30% of applicable high school students with IEPs will be proficient on the state’s Keystone Algebra assessment. At the end of the 20-21 school year, 22.39% of applicable high school students were proficient.
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Literature
Literature
By the end of the 26-27 school year, 68.60% of applicable high school students will be proficient on the state’s Keystone Literature assessment. At the end of the 20-21 school year, 59.17% of applicable high school students were proficient.
By the end of the 26-27 school year, racial achievement disparities between applicable African American and white high school students on the state’s Keystone Literature assessment will decrease to 15.08%. At the end of the 20-21 school year, the racial achievement disparity between applicable African American and white high school students who were proficient was 19.60%.
By the end of the 26-27 school year, 56.64% of applicable high school students with IEPs will be proficient on the state’s Keystone Literature assessment. At the end of the 20-21 school year, 43.64% of applicable high school students were proficient.
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Biology
Biology
By the end of the 26-27 school year, 60.21% of applicable high school students will be proficient on the state’s Keystone Biology assessment. At the end of the 20-21 school year, 48.27% of applicable high school students were proficient.
By the end of the 26-27 school year, racial achievement disparities between applicable African American and white high school students on the state’s Keystone Biology assessment will decrease to 26.39%. At the end of the 20-21 school year, the racial achievement disparity between applicable African American and white high school students who were proficient was 34.30%.
By the end of the 26-27 school year, 43.11% of applicable high school students with IEPs will be proficient on the state’s Keystone Biology assessment. At the end of the 20-21 school year, 26.04% of applicable high school students were proficient.
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Graduation Rates
Graduation Rates
By the end of the 26-27 school year, 85.77% of 12th grade students will graduate. At the end of the 20-21 school year, 81.50% of 12th grade students graduated.
By the end of the 26-27 school year, racial achievement disparities between African American and white 12th grade students who graduate will decrease to 11.62%. At the end of the 20-21 school year, the racial achievement disparity between African American and white CTE 12th grade students who graduated was 15.1%.
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Suspension Ratios
Suspension Ratios
By the end of the 26-27 school year, racial disparities between African American and white suspension ratios will decrease to 2.10%. At the end of the 20-21 school year, the racial disparity between African American and white suspension ratios was 3.20%.
By the end of the 26-27 school year, racial disparities between African American and white male suspension ratios will decrease to 1.91%. At the end of the 20-21 school year, the racial disparity between African American and white male suspension ratios was 2.82%.
By the end of the 26-27 school year, racial disparities between African American and white female suspension ratios will decrease to 2.46%. At the end of the 20-21 school year, the racial disparity between African American and white female suspension ratios was 3.92%.
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Career and Technical Education (CTE) Industry Credential Certifications
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Industry Credential Certifications
By the end of the 26-27 school year, 53.97% of applicable CTE high school students will receive industry credential certifications. At the end of the 20-21 school year, 40.15% of applicable CTE high school students received industry credential certifications.
By the end of the 26-27 school year, racial achievement disparities between applicable African American and white CTE high school students receiving industry credential certifications will decrease to 2.88%. At the end of the 20-21 school year, the racial achievement disparity between applicable African American and white CTE high school students who received industry credential certifications was 3.74%.
District News
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Pittsburgh Public Schools’ 5-year strategic plan begins to take shape
Leaders at Pittsburgh Public Schools want to improve the quality of the district’s academics and reconfigure school facilities, according to a preliminary framework for the district’s five-year strategic plan.
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Superintendent Dr. Wayne N. Walters Named Inaugural Honoree of The Plant A Seed Experience
Superintendent Dr. Wayne N. Walters has been named the inaugural honoree of The Plant A Seed Experience. The experience supports the work of Plant A Seed Children’s Partnership Inc., which through its Working Supportive/Mentoring Curriculum supports youth with life skills that will guide them to better conflict resolution and decision-making - planting comprehensive skills for tomorrow’s generation today.
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College fair with admissions on the spot set for Sept. 19
Board member at-large, Dr. Melvin Steals, and wife, Adrena, are responsible for bringing the fair to Pittsburgh. With support from Dr. Wayne Walters, the former principal of Barack Obama Academy and current PPS superintendent, Dr. Steals hosted the inaugural scholarship fair in the region in 2012. Dr. Walters continues to support what Dr. Steals describes as a pipeline for college and higher educational opportunities.