Tony Watlington

Tony B. Watlington, Sr., Ed.D. | The School District of Philadelphia
Dr. Tony B. Watlington Sr. was appointed superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia in 2022, leading nearly 200,000 students in the nation’s 8th largest district. Known for his collaborative and results-oriented approach, Dr. Watlington initiated a comprehensive Entry Plan and strategic planning process aimed at rapid district improvement. Under his leadership, Philadelphia outperformed other large urban districts in math and reading recovery post-COVID. Dr. Watlington has extensive educational leadership experience, having previously served as superintendent of Rowan-Salisbury Schools in North Carolina emphasizing data-driven strategies and community engagement. He earned his bachelor’s in History Education from North Carolina A&T State University, a master’s in American political history from Ohio State University, a master’s in School Administration, and a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (where he was an NC Principal Fellow). He also holds training certificates from Harvard and Yale universities and is a member of the National Urban Superintendent’s Academy, sponsored by Howard University and the American Association of School Administrators.