Durham chooses new school superintendent with ‘commitment to equity and diversity’
The Durham Public Schools Board of Education has appointed the head of a Kansas school district with 22 years of experience as its new superintendent.
By unanimous vote Saturday, the board chose Anthony S. Lewis to a four-year term starting on Aug. 12. Lewis won the job over more than 100 applicants, the finalists from which were interviewed by a special community panel.
“I am elated to be selected as the next Superintendent of Durham Public Schools,” Lewis said in a Saturday news release. “My education, extensive experiences, deep commitment to student achievement and community engagement, and track record of success have all prepared me to lead.”
“While many great things are happening in this district,” he continued, “I am ready to work to continue and accelerate those successes. The community also recognizes some challenges remain that we must and will address directly.“
Lewis will arrive just as school officials are celebrating a “big win” that saw Durham County raise taxes to pay for salary increases across the board. In January, 12 Durham schools closed after classified workers staged a sickout protesting raises that were authorized and then withdrawn due to budgeting errors.
Superintendent Pascal Mubenga resigned shortly afterward, prompting a nationwide search for a replacement.
“The Board of Education is proud of the outcome of this work. We took extra measures to ensure that the characteristics of our next superintendent were chosen by the people they would serve,” said board Chairwoman Bettina Umstead in a news release.
“As a Board, we were certain that our newly appointed leader would need to bring empirical evidence of having facilitated student achievement, a commitment to equity and diversity, and a management sense that would take this district from good to great. Dr. Lewis’ proven track record and experience met the high standards we and the community hold for this district’s performance.”
Lewis has served as superintendent of Lawrence Public Schools in Lawrence, Kansas, since 2018.
His work is guided by a “laser-like focus” on each student, the release said, a quality he learned from his grandmother, who worked as a cafeteria manager for 40 years.
She greeted every student for breakfast every day, and Lewis added, “All adults can instill value in our scholars and make them feel seen and heard. Now they’re ready to learn.”
In Lawrence, Lewis started the district’s first equity policy. As a result, the board’s release said, the district saw its highest increase in the graduation rate for 16 years, closing the achievement gap between white and Black students.
“I’m in this work to improve outcomes for all students,” Lewis said.
Lewis was recognized as one of the National School Public Relations Association’s Superintendents to Watch in 2020. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly appointed Lewis to the Kansas African-American Affairs Commission in 2019, and to the Commission on Racial Equity and Justice.
Lewis started his school career as a high school special education teacher in Montgomery, Alabama. He eventually became principal of a low-performing elementary school that saw improved results under his leadership, the release said Saturday.
From there, Lewis moved on to the school district in Kansas City, Missouri, where he worked as a principal, director of elementary schools and assistant superintendent.
Lewis earned his bachelor of science and master of education degrees in special education from Alabama State University in Montgomery. He later completed the Instructional Leadership Academy at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.
He earned a doctorate of philosophy degree in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Missouri.
