More changes in Ackerman administration

A shake-up of Superintendent Arlene Ackerman's leadership team continues, with the schools chief adding several new positions.

Announced today were several changes that will take effect July 1.

David Weiner, formerly Chief Accountability Officer, becomes Chief Academic and Accountability Officer.

Pamela Brown, the current acting Chief Academic Officer, will remain in the academic office, but Philadelphia School District spokeswoman Evelyn Sample-Oates said she did not know what Brown's new title would be.

Tomas Hanna, formerly Ackerman's chief of staff, takes on the new job of Associate Superintendent of Academics. In this role, he will oversee the offices of academics and accountability, parent and community engagement, student support service and truancy.

Diane Castelbuono, formerly a deputy secretary in the Pennsylvania Department of Education, becomes the new Associate Superintendent of Strategic Programs. Castelbuono will oversee charter, turnaround and Renaissance schools.

Lucy Feria, who had been superintendent of the North Region, is the new Deputy Chief of Multilingual Curriculum and Programs.

Karen Kolsky, who had been an assistant superintendent in the Northeast Region, is now Deputy Chief of Professional Development.

Michael Sonkowsky, who had been director of the Office of Grants Development and Support, is now Deputy Chief of Grants Development and Compliance.

For the time being, the officials' salaries will not change, Sample-Oates said.

"We're trying to stay neutral within the budget," said Sample-Oates. "We've been instructed by the SRC not to go over budget."

She said the salaries might change eventually.

Changes to the structure of the district's regional offices are still to be announced. It is widely expected that the current setup, with regions based mostly on geography, will no longer exist.

In recent weeks, Ackerman has made a number of moves within her administration. Last week, she promoted several principals to become assistant superintendents and turnaround principals overseeing restructured schools.

Earlier in the month, she named Leroy Nunery deputy superintendent and said that as her second-in-command, he would take responsibility for some of the day-to-day operations of the district.