Philly's Arlene Ackerman named top urban school leader in the U.S.

Philadelphia schools chief Arlene Ackerman has been named the nation's top urban school leader.

Ackerman, who has led the Philadelphia School District for more than two years, is the 2010 winner of the Richard R. Green Award, announced Thursday night by the Council of Great City Schools at a conference in Florida. She was chosen from a pool of nine finalists culled from 65 urban districts.

"Arlene Ackerman is one of the best big-city school superintendents in the country, and is most worthy of the nation's highest individual award in urban education," said Michael Casserly, executive director of the council, a nonprofit that represents 65 of the nation's largest school districts. "She is smart, dedicated, innovative, effective, and completely committed to our urban schoolchildren."

Casserly pointed to Imagine 2014, Ackerman's five-year blueprint for school reform, as a success, hailing her strategy of funneling more resources to needier schools and expansion of school choice. He also noted that under her leadership, half of all Philadelphia schoolchildren met standards on state exams, a first for the district since records have been kept under the federal No Child Left Behind law.

While the district's test scores have continued to improve under Ackerman's leadership, that gain follows six years of improvement under former schools chief Paul Vallas and interim chief Tom Brady.

Vallas now heads the New Orleans Recovery school system, and Brady is superintendent in Providence, R.I.

"Philadelphia is a school system that has seen some improvements over the years, but Arlene is clearly committed to trying to take those improvements to the next level," Casserly said in an interview.

Under her leadership, the district has involved more parents and revamped its systems for data and performance management for students and employees.

But beyond what she's achieved in Philadelphia, "the weight of her work over a very long period of time is what she is being honored for tonight," Casserly said.

Ackerman, 63, previously led school systems in San Francisco and Washington, D.C., and worked as a professor at Columbia University. She began her career as a second grade teacher in a tough St. Louis neighborhood, and holds degrees from Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis, Washington University, and Harvard University.

Reached Thursday night, Ackerman was ecstatic after the announcement, which came as a surprise, she said. She had been nominated once before, as San Francisco superintendent, but didn't expect to win. Indeed, she said, she nearly skipped the award ceremony and opted to stay in her room and rest.

"I'm still in shock," said Ackerman. "I feel so blessed that I've had 42 years to give in service of children. I've been a warrior for children. I've always taken on the toughest assignments."

She said she was particularly gratified that her colleagues - Ackerman was chosen by former superintendents and school board members who have won the prize - picked her.

The prize comes with a $10,000 college scholarship that Ackerman will present to either a Philadelphia district student or a 12th grader from her high school alma mater in St. Louis.

The Green Award, named for the first African American chancellor of the New York City public schools, is given in alternating years to a superintendent and an outstanding school board member from 65 of the biggest school systems in the country.

Though lauded by the Council of Great City Schools, Ackerman has stirred controversy at times in Philadelphia.

The superintendent has proven unpopular with many teachers and also taken heat for a $65,000 bonus she earned on top of her $338,000 salary. Ackerman has also drawn criticism for her handling of racial violence last year at South Philadelphia High.