The Office will lead Implementation of Accelerating Opportunity, the District’s 10-year Roadmap to Modernize Schools and Expand Opportunities for Students
PHILADELPHIA — Today, the School District of Philadelphia officially launched Accelerating Opportunity, its historic $3 billion Facilities Master Plan, by announcing Shakeera Warthen-Canty, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent of School Operations and Management, as Senior Advisor, School Transitions & Facilities Plan Implementation of the new School Transition Office. The School Transition Office will serve as the central hub for implementing the plan and will play a critical role in coordinating community engagement, project management, student and family supports, and additional operational planning. Working closely with school communities, staff, and stakeholders, the office will help ensure that implementation of the Facilities Master Plan is thoughtful, transparent, and focused on delivering equitable, modern learning environments for students across Philadelphia.
The announcement was made at John M. Patterson Elementary School, one of the first schools to undergo a major transformation under Accelerating Opportunity. Through the Facilities Master Plan, Patterson will receive approximately $45 million in investments, including a building addition to expand capacity, modernization of learning spaces, accessibility improvements, and other upgrades designed to support the school’s transition to a K–8 model. Patterson’s transformation reflects the District’s broader commitment to ensuring that students across Philadelphia have access to modern, welcoming, and high-quality learning environments.
“Since the start of our Facilities Planning Process, our focus has been on expanding equitable access to high-quality academics and extracurricular opportunities across all neighborhoods, while addressing the challenges of aging, underutilized, and overcrowded school buildings,” said Superintendent Tony B. Watlington, Sr., Ed.D. “Dr. Warthen-Canty has a demonstrated track record of being a collaborative and academic results-oriented leader, who will be instrumental in moving the facilities planning forward.”
Prior to this role, Dr. Warthen-Canty, has served as an Assistant Superintendent since 2021. She was also principal at Bregy Elementary School from 2015 to 2021.Under her leadership, the school made notable strides in academic achievement and student engagement. Under the District’s previous accountability framework, Bregy moved from the lowest category, Intervene, to the second highest tier, Reinforce, over Dr. Warthen-Canty’s tenure. Specifically, Bregy was a Model school in 2018-19 in the academic Progress domain. She has received the Lindback Award for Distinguished Principal Leadership for her significant leadership and humanitarian contributions to her school community. She is a graduate of Overbrook High School.
In April, the School District of Philadelphia’s Board of Education approved the District’s comprehensive Facilities Master Plan, which serves as a 10-year roadmap to modernize school buildings, align resources with student needs, and accelerate academic achievement for students across the city. Specifically, the substantial capital investments include: building a new high school; improving ADA accessibility; renovating two pools; updating HVAC systems, bathrooms and lighting; providing state-of-the-art CTE centers; refurbishing athletic facilities at some schools; renovating Pre-K classrooms; building full service kitchens; and, reimagining classroom spaces to better support high-quality instruction.
Under the leadership of Dr. Warthen-Canty, the School Transition Office will also help ensure that students, families, and staff receive timely information, meaningful opportunities for engagement, and access to resources throughout the implementation of the Facilities Master Plan.
Dr. Warthen-Canty will officially begin her role on July 1, 2026.
Additional District staff and subject matter experts will support implementation efforts as projects advance across the District.