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Shake-up of Ackerman team continues

A shake-up of Philadelphia Schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman's central administration continued Friday with the naming of a new crop of central office staff members, and with officials signaling that more changes were on the way.

A shake-up of Philadelphia Schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman's central administration continued Friday with the naming of a new crop of central office staff members, and with officials signaling that more changes were on the way.

Ackerman promoted two principals to assistant superintendents. Patricia Mazzuca, who led Juniata Park Academy, and Elois Dupree, from Spring Garden Elementary, will supervise the elementary schools. Those positions are new. A spokeswoman for the School District said no other assistant superintendents would be named immediately.

But it is widely expected that the current regional structure, with 11 mostly geographical offices headed by regional superintendents, is on its way out.

Evelyn Sample-Oates, the spokeswoman, said Ackerman "hasn't announced anything yet. She's still kind of working it out." But more changes are coming, Sample-Oates acknowledged.

Ackerman has also tapped Ed Penn, principal of Thurgood Marshall Elementary, and Lois Powell-Mondesire, principal of Strawberry Mansion High, to be "turnaround principals." They will not oversee individual schools, but will work with the principals of seven Promise Academies, district turnaround schools that will open in September.

Another change is the creation of the Philadelphia School Leadership Academy, a department focusing on professional development for principals and teachers. Its leader will be Cassandra Ruffin, the current principal of Girls' High and a former central office staff member.

The academy represents "an opportunity for both teachers and principals to strengthen their leadership skills or to help them move ahead in leadership roles in the district," said Sample-Oates.

In a statement, Ackerman praised Ruffin as "a great principal who understands what it takes to improve schools and make them great."

Sample-Oates said a roster of the new principals of Girls' High, Strawberry Mansion High, Thurgood Marshall Elementary, Juniata Park Academy, and Spring Garden Elementary has not yet been finalized.

The changes are key to a reform agenda, Ackerman said in the statement.

"More than policies and mandates, we need inspiring and empowering leadership of individuals to drive dramatic change and break the cycle of underperformance," the superintendent said.

The changes take effect July 1.

For now, none of the promotions comes with a salary boost.

"It doesn't mean there won't be," Sample-Oates said. "Just for right now, there's no salary increase."

Sample-Oates also said a reorganization of the district's communications department was on the way. Decisions are still being made about the new look, she said.

"We are going to restructure it so we're focusing on both media and our television station," Sample-Oates said.

The district's public-access cable television channel, PSTV (Philadelphia Public School TV), broadcasts district meetings, special events, and shows on educational subjects.

This month, Ackerman began making changes to her administration. 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.

Nunery's new salary is $230,000. As chief of strategic partnerships, he earned $180,000.