Pittsburgh Public Schools to launch national search for new superintendent

Pittsburgh Public Schools is looking to hire consultants to help it conduct a national search for a new superintendent.

Former PPS superintendent Anthony Hamlet resigned in October after the district received criticism over in-person schooling decisions related to the pandemic and the Pennsylvania Ethics Commission found Hamlet violated the state’s Ethics Act with regard to travel expenses.

“The decision to conduct a national search provides the opportunity for us — as a school community — to determine the ideal type of leadership we need to guide our district into the future,” PPS Board President Sala Udin said in a statement.

Wayne Walters was named interim superintendent in September, and he has served in that role since. The PPS board wants to have a permanent superintendent in place by the start of next school year.

Udin said the board will be seeking community input to help identify traits people want to see in the superintendent. Details on how the input will be gathered will be released after a search firm has been found, the district said.

Proposals from consultants interested in conducting the search are due by March 9. The PPS board will then vote to approve a contract with a search firm. The board anticipates a search firm will be named when it meets March 23.