About NSPRA
The Superintendents to Watch award recognizes school district leaders who have fewer than five years of experience as a superintendent and who demonstrate dynamic, fast-paced leadership with strong communication at its core.
Since his appointment in June 2022, Tony B. Watlington, Sr., Ed.D., has led one of the nation’s largest school systems through a period of focused improvement driven by communication, transparency, and shared accountability. With more than 200 stakeholders engaged in the creation of the district’s five-year strategic plan, Accelerate Philly, Watlington positioned communication not as a support function, but as a strategic engine for districtwide change.
Under his leadership, the School District of Philadelphia has recorded gains in enrollment, student attendance, third-grade reading and math proficiency, NOCTI pass rates, four-year graduation rates, and reductions in dropouts.
“Superintendent Watlington exemplifies integrity, transparency, measurable impact, and a deep dedication to the communities we serve. His leadership has strengthened public trust, elevated district performance, and positioned SDP as a rising national model for urban education." — Reginald L. Streater, Esq., President, Board of Education, School District of Philadelphia
Communicating Strategically
Watlington made two-way communication a formal pillar of Accelerate Philly, embedding it directly into how the district plans, operates, and reports progress. As part of Strategic Action 2.1, the district launched a multilingual, districtwide two-way communications system now operating across all schools and central offices. In a single school year, the platform processed more than 64,000 inquiries with an average response time of 1.5 business days and an 8.0 customer service rating.
A parallel digital modernization effort is reshaping how families and community members access information. More than 200 school websites are being redesigned alongside the district’s central site to deliver user-centered, highly accessible content, with two-way communication embedded throughout.
Turning Listening Into Action
Watlington’s approach to engagement began with a historic Listening and Learning Tour during his first 100 days, which included more than 80 community sessions across Philadelphia. That work expanded through an 80-member transition team and a planning process that engaged more than 200 participants in shaping Accelerate Philly.
Those efforts led to permanent structures designed to sustain two-way dialogue, including advisory groups for parents and guardians, teachers, principals, and students that meet regularly and inform district decision-making.
Visible and Responsive Leadership
Watlington has made himself a consistent and recognizable presence across Philadelphia’s schools and media landscape. He uses social media for real-time engagement, shares video updates, and interacts directly with the community online. He is also a frequent and informed voice in print and broadcast media, ensuring the district communicates clearly and quickly during both routine operations and challenging moments.
Under his leadership, the district has built a connected communication infrastructure designed to make schools more accessible, responsive, and accountable to the families they serve. A districtwide two-way communication system now links every school and central office, giving parents and community members a direct line for questions and concerns and generating tens of thousands of interactions each year.
Internally, staff receive steady updates through newsletters, videos, and written messages, reinforcing clarity and alignment across the system.
These tools are supported by formal advisory groups that bring parents, teachers, principals, and students into regular dialogue with district leadership, ensuring feedback flows continuously into decision-making. Watlington reinforces that structure through his own visible presence, engaging the community through social media, news media, and in-person forums that keep district priorities, progress, and challenges in the public conversation.