Join Us to Celebrate Board of Education Recognition Month

January is dedicated to recognizing Board of Education Members for their dedicated public service and commitment to public education excellence. Please join us this month in recognizing the School District of Philadelphia Board of Education Members who volunteer their time and leadership to serve the nearly 200,000 students in Philadelphia who attend district, charter and alternative schools.

To celebrate, we are inviting our families, school communities, staff, elected officials and the general public to get to know their School Board by following us on Twitter/X, @PHLschoolboard, and facebook, PHLschoolboard, to learn more about the role of the Board and individual Board Members. All month long, we will be sharing their stories and personal experiences over the years through their collective service to the Board of Education.

The Board of Education comprises nine members, who are volunteers representing all parts of the City and who are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by City Council. Current Board Members have diverse backgrounds in education, social services, law, government, counseling, advocacy and business, and several are parents of school-age children who attend District and charter schools.

The Board also includes two non-voting student representatives and one alternate, who serve in an advisory role representing the interests of students across the City. They voice student concerns with the Board at monthly action meetings and committee meetings and share Board work and actions with their peers. In addition, they serve on the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Group.

Board Members collectively serve in the best interest of every student in Philadelphia as the governing body responsible for overseeing all policies and budgetary decisions of the School District. The Board also serves as the authorizer for all charter schools in Philadelphia. The Board has set clear, aligned goals that drive decision-making and policy-making to foster strategic planning and investments that support student achievement.

In 2020, the Board adopted Goals & Guardrails as a plan to raise student achievement in Philadelphia. Each month at a public meeting, the Board reviews and monitors progress toward achieving Goals & Guardrails and improving student outcomes.

Join us this month in celebrating and recognizing the Board of Education Members who volunteer their time and effort to ensure that every student receives a quality education that empowers them to achieve positive life outcomes. Read their stories on social media, share them with your networks and take a moment to thank Board Members for their dedicated public service by sending a note of appreciation to them at schoolboard@philasd.org.

Learn more about the Board of Education and individual Board Members by visiting our website at philasd.org/schoolboard/.