DPS Board Extends Superintendent Mubenga’s Contract Through 2026

DURHAM, NC – The Durham Public Schools (DPS) Board of Education has extended the contract of Superintendent Pascal Mubenga, Ph.D., by one year through June 30, 2026. The unanimous vote came after the Board reconvened its June monthly meeting on Wednesday, June 29, 2022.

Upon the vote, Bettina Umstead, chair of the DPS school board, said:

“Dr. Mubenga, this Board is honored to approve a contract extension for one year. You have continued to lead our school district with a focus on educating our children. During another unprecedented year, we strengthened our commitment to taking care of the social-emotional needs of students, pushed to accelerate learning gains, and advocated to take care of our educators. We are grateful for the way that you listen to the community and develop plans that are strategic in how we move our district forward. We have extended your contract for an additional year and hope that you, along with your colleagues, will receive a raise from the state with the new budget bill.

We know that we face challenges ahead as we continue to navigate through and recover from the disrupted schooling from the COVID-19 pandemic. We also believe you are the right person to lead us in this effort. We look forward to continuing to work alongside you to fulfill our mission to ignite the limitless potential of our students and staff. Thank you.”

Dr. Mubenga was sworn in on November 27, 2017. Since his arrival and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, DPS saw enrollment growth for the first time in four years in 2019 and a reduction by half of the number of schools labeled “low performing” by the state. Dr. Mubenga was honored by his peers in North Carolina as the North Central Regional Superintendent of the Year for 2020. He led the district’s response to COVID-19 by implementing a one-to-one technology initiative and empowering a COVID-19 Response Team to support students and staff during the return to in-person teaching and learning. Under his leadership, the district adopted the Growing Together proposal for elementary school program enhancements, application program changes, and boundary adjustments to take effect in the 2024-25 school year.

“I want to thank our Board and community for their continued support,” said Dr. Mubenga. “This is an exciting time for our students and schools as we reclaim the momentum that was interrupted by the isolation our students endured. I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to champion our educators, support our students, and move Durham forward.”