Our Leadership
The School District of Philadelphia is comprised of a staff of highly qualified and dedicated individuals. Every one of our staff members plays an important role in the success of our schools. To highlight some of our exemplary staff, we have included brief bios of our leadership team members on this page.
Officers
Arlene C. Ackerman, Ed. D.,
Superintendent of Schools
School District of Philadelphia Superintendent, Dr. Arlene C. Ackerman, has more than 30 years of experience in leading large, diverse urban public school systems.
Dr. Ackerman, who assumed her duties in Philadelphia in June 2008, came to the School District from the Teachers College of Columbia University, where she served as Director of the Urban Education Leaders Program and Chairperson of the Superintendents and Scholars Symposium. The Urban Leaders Education Program is the College's largest doctoral program for public-school leaders. She joined Teachers College's Education Leadership faculty as the Christian A. Johnson Professor of Outstanding Educational Practice in 2006.
Dr. Ackerman also is Superintendent in Residence of Los Angeles-based Broad Center, where she facilitates and directs the Broad Superintendents Academy. The Academy is a ten-month executive management program designed to prepare CEOs and senior executives from business, government, and education backgrounds to lead urban public school systems.
Prior to 2006, Dr. Ackerman was Superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District and the District of Columbia Public Schools. During her tenure in San Francisco, the city's public schools--with, 62,000 students and 117 schools--attained five consecutive years of improved achievement for all groups of students while also holding the distinction as the highest-performing large urban school district in the state of California during the last two years of her superintendency.
To learn more about our Superintendent of Schools, read Dr. Ackerman's complete biography
Tomás Hanna, Chief of Staff
Tomás Hanna was appointed Chief of Staff to School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Dr. Arlene Ackerman in October 2009.
In June 2008, Mr. Hanna returned to The School District of Philadelphia to serve as the Chief of School Operations. In this position, he oversaw the following Deputy Offices: Parent, Family, Community Engagement, and Faith-Based Partnerships; School Climate and Safety; Grants Development and Support; Attendance and Truancy; Multiple Pathways to Graduation; School Management, and Student Support Services. These offices provide direct support services to students, parents, and schools in grades Pre-K through 12.
To learn more about our Chief of Staff, read Mr. Hanna's complete biography
Pamela Brown, Interim Chief Academic Officer
Ms. Brown is an experienced educator who specializes in promoting strong student achievement through data-driven and collaborative planning processes, positive student behavior, second language acquisition, and community partnerships. Ms. Brown was appointed Interim Chief Academic Officer by School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Arlene Ackerman.
To learn more about our Interim Chief Academic Officer, read Ms. Brown's complete biography
Michael J. Masch, Chief Business Officer
Michael J. Masch was named Chief Business Officer of the School District of Philadelphia on May 28 2008 and began working for the District on July 7 2008. Masch heads a $1.2 billion division with over 4,000 employees. He is responsible for the preparation and implementation of the District’s operating, categorical and capital budgets. He oversees the SDP units responsible for accounting and financial reporting, payroll, cash management, treasury operations, child accounting, Medicaid reimbursement, workers’ compensation, risk management, and the District’s Finance/Human Resources management information system. Masch also leads the District offices responsible for Human Resources, Procurement, Information Technology, Facilities Management, Food Services, Transportation, and Capital Program.
Masch has a long and distinguished record of public service. He served as Secretary of the Budget for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from January 2003 through June 2008 under Governor Edward G. Rendell. Masch also served in an expanded role as Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Administration from October 2004 to August 2005. Prior to being appointed Secretary of the Budget, Masch served as Vice President for Budget and Management at the University of Pennsylvania from 1996 through 2002. He was the City of Philadelphia’s Budget Director under then-Mayor Rendell from 1992 through 1996. Masch was a member of the Board of Education for the School District of Philadelphia from March 2000 until December 2001. When the School Reform Commission replaced the Board of Education as the District’s governing body in January 2002, Masch was appointed by Governor Mark Schweiker and Mayor John F. Street to fill one of the five seats on the new SRC, and served on the SRC until 2003.
To learn more about our Chief Business Officer, read Mr. Masch's complete biography
Estelle G. Matthews, Chief Talent Development Officer
Estelle G. Matthews was appointed Chief Talent Development Officer for the School District of Philadelphia in November of 2008. Prior to accepting her new post, Ms. Matthews served as Senior Vice President Human Resources at Wachovia Bank from 2005-2008.
In her new leadership role as Chief Talent Development Officer, Ms. Matthews will be responsible for supervising 100 employees within the District’s Office of Human Resources. In addition, Ms. Matthews will develop and implement all recruitment, retention, and employee relations for the School District of Philadelphia’s 25,000 employees.
To learn more about our Chief Talent Development Officer, read Ms. Matthews' complete biography
Evelyn Sample-Oates, Chief Communications Officer
Mrs. Evelyn Sample-Oates was appointed Chief Communication Officer in August 2009. She spent nearly two decades in television and radio at both CBS, NBC and ABC television affiliates. Locally, she worked at both WCAU-TV and KYW Newsradio. Prior to coming to the School District of Philadelphia, she served as Vice President of Client Relations and Marketing for Keystone Quality Transport. As Chief Communication Officer, Mrs. Sample-Oates leads a department that informs the public via media relations efforts, public speaking forums, publications and the District's community access cable television station, PSTV 52 (Philadelphia Public Schools Television). As a resource to teachers and administrative offices, the department also offers guidance and support in managing major news and community issues, and helps generate special events, press conferences and other strategies to communicate the District’s stories of pride and accomplishment。
To learn more about our Chief Communication Officer, read Mrs. Evelyn Sample-Oates' complete biography
John W. Frangipani, Chief of School Operations
Mr. Frangipani was appointed as The School District of Philadelphia’s Chief of School Operations in October 2009 by School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Dr. Arlene C. Ackerman.
In this position, he oversees the following Deputy Offices: Parent, Family and Community Services; School Climate and Safety, Dropout Prevention, Student Services and Grants and Development. These offices provide direct support services to parents, schools, and students in grades pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade.
To learn more about our Chief of School Operations, read Mr. Frangipani’s complete biography
Benjamin W. Rayer, Chief Charter, Partnership and New Schools Officer
In December 2008, Benjamin Rayer was appointed Chief Charter, Partner and New Schools Officer for The School District of Philadelphia. Prior to joining the District, Rayer served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Mastery Charter Schools, a charter management organization based in Philadelphia. He has also served as a Director of The Broad Residency in Urban Education, Senior Consultant with Public Financial Management and Chief Operating Officer for the Philadelphia Health & Education Finance Authority.
Rayer began his career as an elementary school teacher in Long Beach, California as part of the Teach For America program. Rayer received his Bachelor's Degree in Public Policy from Cornell University and a Master's in Government Administration from the University of Pennsylvania. He was also a 2002 fellow in the Broad Foundation's Urban Superintendents Academy.
David Weiner, Chief Accountability Officer
Mr. David Weiner serves as the Chief Accountability Officer for the School District of Philadelphia. In this position, he oversees the following departments: Assessment, Accountability, Performance Targets and Data Analysis, School Innovation and Best Practices, Educational Equity, and Research and Evaluation. The Accountability Office has created the performance management system for the School District of Philadelphia. These offices also provide direct support to schools, regions and district offices to inform their use of data in decision-making and to improve the performance of the students in the Philadelphia schools.
To learn more about our Chief Accountability Officer, read Mr. Weiner's complete biography
Miles H. Shore, Interim General Counsel
Mr. Shore joined the School District in 2003 as Assistant General Counsel. Mr. Shore previously served as Interim General Counsel from August 2005 through September 2006. Prior to joining the School District, Mr. Shore was a litigation partner in the law firm of Saul Ewing LLP, where he concentrated his practice in commercial litigation. Mr. Shore earned an L.L.B. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1968.
The Interim General Counsel oversees the Office of General Counsel and is responsible for providing legal advice and representation on litigation (torts, civil rights, labor and employment and commercial), transactional matters. special education and school law matters affecting the School District. The Office of General Counsel provides legal services to the Superintendent, all School District organizational and departmental units, the Intermediate Unit and the School Reform Commission. The Interim General Counsel also serves as Assistant Secretary to the School Reform Commission.