Saying she wants to give the board as much time as possible to find a replacement, Pittsburgh Superintendent of Schools Linda Lane has announced she will let her current contract expire in June and will not seek a new one.
“This is a bittersweet decision for me, as there is so much about this job that I truly love and will definitely miss,” she said in a Sept. 4 press announcement.
“After 44 years in public education, I believe I have more chapters left in me where I hope to utilize my experience in education and my passion for promoting learning for Pittsburgh’s children that might include college-level teaching, writing, and work in support and development of school leaders.”
Lane was recruited by former superintendent Mark Roosevelt in 2007 and served as deputy superintendent until he left for another position in 2010. The school board named her superintendent the following year.
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said Lane was more than an able leader she was a mentor and an inspiration.
“As much as the city has been blessed to have Dr. Lane as a leader and advocate, I personally have been blessed to have her as a partner during my first two years in office,” he said. “She has been both a mentor and an inspiration to me on the importance of education. Together we have worked to break down the walls between City Hall and the public schools, and focused on one agenda for the betterment of Pittsburgh’s children.”
During her tenure, Lane is credited with increasing graduation rates by nearly 10 percent, from 68.5 in 2011 to 77.4 in 2013. She also secured more than $80 million in grant funding for the financially stressed district from local and national foundations to support various initiatives.
School Board President Thomas Sumpter also thanked her and praised her dedication.
“She has been at the forefront of many new initiatives and programs that have taken place in our Pittsburgh Public Schools during her tenure as superintendent for nearly five years,” he said. “Some of her initiatives have gained recognition from other districts in the country.”
Allies for Children Executive Director Patrick Dowd, a former teacher, school board member and Pittsburgh Councilman, called her a champion for the district’s students.
“Dr. Lane has dedicated herself to giving the students in Pittsburgh a great shot at success,” he said. “Her tenure has been dedicated and focused exclusively on what is in the best interest of students.
With that in mind, Lane said she plans to make her last year another productive one, focusing on:
•Integrating cultural relevancy throughput the curriculum;
•Strengthening the district’s early reading program;
•Rolling out new STEAM programs, a collective impact pilot at Pittsburgh Milliones and the restorative practices program at 22 schools; and
•Solidifying the District’s promise-readiness programs, with a special focus on providing direct support to help African American male students improve their rate of eligibility for a Promise scholarship.
“For me,” she said. “It has always been about staying focused on the needs of our students and we’ve got a lot more to do before my work is completed.”
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