DPS Board of Education Names Dr. Anthony S. Lewis As New Superintendent
DURHAM, NC – The Durham Public Schools Board of Education (BOE) has appointed Dr. Anthony S. Lewis to a four-year term as the new Superintendent of Durham Public Schools, effective August 12, 2024, through June 30, 2028.
After several months and hundreds of hours of deliberation with input from employees and the community, the Board voted unanimously today (June 29) to select Dr. Lewis as the next Superintendent. Of the more than 100 applicants, four finalists were chosen. They were then interviewed by a special community panel appointed by the Board to meet those candidates and submit their vote for the top candidate. The panel members signed a non-disclosure agreement to ensure privacy, confidentiality, and fidelity.
“The Board of Education is proud of the outcome of this work. We took extra measures to ensure that the characteristics of our next Superintendent were chosen by the people they would serve,” said BOE Chairwoman Bettina Umstead. “As a Board, we were certain that our newly appointed leader would need to bring empirical evidence of having facilitated student achievement, a commitment to equity and diversity, and a management sense that would take this district from good to great. Dr. Lewis’s proven track record and experience met our and the community’s high standards for this district’s performance.”
Dr. Lewis, who has served as superintendent of Lawrence Public Schools in Lawrence, Kansas, since 2018, has been an educator for 22 years. He notes that the foremost core values guiding his work are a “laser-like focus” on each student, and teachers are the most influential people in determining student outcomes. He says he learned the importance of personalizing education from his grandmother, a hands-on cafeteria manager for 40 years. She greeted every student for breakfast every day, and Dr. Lewis said her deliberate actions demonstrated “the power of that first adult” and how “what we say or what we don’t say can impact their day… All adults can instill value in our scholars and make them feel seen and heard. Now they’re ready to learn.” He adds that investing in teachers and instructional assistants are priorities.
During his six-year tenure with Lawrence Public Schools, Dr. Lewis facilitated the development and implementation of the district’s first-ever equity policy. As a result, he said that systems were designed to empower all educators so that the work would take root. One of the most visible impacts was the highest increase in the district’s graduation rate in 16 years and the closing of the achievement gap between White and Black students.
“I’m in this work to improve outcomes for all students,” he said.
Dr. Lewis’s outstanding leadership earned him recognition as one of the National School Public Relations Association’s Superintendents to Watch in September 2020. This prestigious accolade acknowledges his dynamic and fast-paced leadership, underpinned by effective communication and innovative use of technology to engage and inform school communities.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly appointed Dr. Lewis to the Kansas African American Affairs Commission in November 2019, where he contributed to developing strategies addressing public policy concerns within the African-American community, fostering partnerships with state agencies, corporations, and foundations. Additionally, he is actively involved in programs, grants, and research. In June 2020, Governor Laura Kelly appointed Dr. Lewis to the Commission on Racial Equity and Justice, tasking him with studying and addressing racial equity and justice issues in Kansas, with a particular emphasis on law enforcement-community relations.
Dr. Lewis began his educational journey as a high school Special Education teacher in Montgomery, Alabama. Through his unwavering dedication and talent, he ascended the ranks, eventually becoming principal of a low-performing elementary school that became high-performing and achieved remarkable results under his leadership. Dr. Lewis’s exceptional track record in Alabama garnered the attention of the Kansas City, Missouri School District, where he assumed key roles, including principal, director of elementary schools, and assistant superintendent. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in steering the district towards full accreditation after nearly three decades.
Dr. Lewis earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees in Special Education and a Certificate in Educational Leadership from Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama. He further honed his educational expertise by completing the Instructional Leadership Academy at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. His commitment to education led him to attain a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. He also completed the American Association of School Administrators (AASA)/The School Superintendents Association’s Urban Superintendents Academy in partnership with Howard University.
“I am elated to be selected as the next Superintendent of Durham Public Schools. My education, extensive experiences, deep commitment to student achievement and community engagement, and track record of success have all prepared me to lead Durham Public Schools,” said Dr. Lewis. “While many great things are happening in this district, I am ready to work to continue and accelerate those successes. The community also recognizes some challenges remain that we must and will address directly.
With the support of the Durham Public Schools Board of Education, I am confident that together, we can guide our 31,333 students and 5,054 staff members. Our goal will be to create an environment where every student not only develops a love for learning and intellectual curiosity but also envisions a future filled with incredible and limitless opportunities. This ultimately ensures that Durham Public Schools is the premiere school district in the country.”
He will be formally introduced to the DPS and Durham communities at a press conference later this summer.