2 minute read
Infinite Possibilities
Educator, Pennsylvania Superintendent of the Year, author—for Dr. Khalid Mumin ’95, 2020 was a year of achievement despite the challenges.
Each year, the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators selects a Superintendent of the Year. The individual is acknowledged for their leadership for learning, communication skills, professionalism and community involvement. All traits one might say this year’s winner, Dr. Khalid Mumin ’95, superintendent of the Reading School District, wrote the book about. And this past year, he actually wrote a book.
In his new book, Problem Child: Leading Students Living in Poverty Towards Infinite Possibilities of Success, Mumin shares much of his personal childhood experience as a “problem child.” He helps readers to examine “the historical constructs of youth growing up in poverty and emphasizes the ways in which influential mentorship have become one of the major pillars of success.” The importance of mentors is something he’s witnessed in his tenure in education, but also during his experience at Ship. “As an educator, I had some of the greatest teachers and professors here that really helped me to be successful in my career,” Mumin said during a fall visit to campus. And during that visit, President Laurie A. Carter congratulated Mumin on his
Superintendent of the Year honor and presented him with an award acknowledging his alma mater’s pride in his career defining achievement. When Mumin stepped in to lead one of the largest urban school districts in the state, which also was one of the poorest, he faced unsettled budgets, failing infrastructure and eight bargaining units without contracts for five years. With a student population nearing 18,000, 93.3 percent were economically disadvantaged, 18.2 percent were English language learners and 16.1 percent were special education learners. Coupled with a transient student population and extremely low test scores, Mumin faced a steep uphill climb.
Dr. Mumin right at home on a visit to campus.
Channeling the very type of leadership and mentorship he champions in his book, Mumin was swift to make meaningful change for students. He guided the implementation of blended learning programs designed to reengage dropouts, streamlined lesson planning for 13 elementary schools, increased the number of school social workers and counselors, and created engagement opportunities for the families of English Language Learners. And today, other struggling school districts are modeling the work happening in Reading Area School District.
And perhaps his greatest accomplishment, restoring the pride students, teachers and families feel for their school district. With the use of the #RSDProud hashtag on social media, the district community shares with the world, their accomplishments. Even as he accepted the title of Superintendent of the year it was his pride in his district and his commitment and the opportunities that await his students that were front and center. He tweeted, “The many words of encouragement have me full of emotions, thankfulness and humility. Your support, motivation, and the grace of ‘The Most High,’ keep me forever focused on opening doors for our youth leading to infinite possibilities of success. #RSDProud.”
Mumin spends time in the classroom (photos taken pre-COVID).
