Neubauer Fellows Community

Shakeera Warthen-Canty, EdD

Assistant Superintendent
School District of Philadelphia
2017 Neubauer Fellow
Sector
Philadelphia
Education
EdD, Educational Leadership, Temple University
MA, Education – Educational Administration, Administrative Certification, Cheyney University
MS, Education – Teaching English as a Second Language, University of Pennsylvania
BS, Elementary/Early Childhood Education, Temple University
“School leadership is a calling! I am truly doing the work that makes my heart smile every day! I am proud to support the development of educators, and watch the impact it has on our students academically, socially, and emotionally.”

As an Assistant Superintendent for the School District of Philadelphia, Shakeera provides direct support to 16 schools (elementary and middle), supervising, coaching, and supporting 16 principals as they improve outcomes for the students in our network. She’s held this role since 2021.

Previously, Shakeera served as the principal of Bregy Elementary School from 2015-2021. Under Shakeera’s leadership, students at Bregy receive increased instructional time, Bregy decreased the number of students with out-of-school suspensions by 5%, and increased the number of students attending school 95% of time or more from 29% to 38% in just one school year. Bregy’s students improved in reading, with 50% of K-2 students reading on grade level by the end of 2017-18 compared to only 41% in the prior year. Bregy also received the School Progress Report (SPR) award in 2019 for achieving Highest Four Year Improvement in the Overall category, moving Bregy up two tier levels. Bregy has been featured and honored at the School District of Philadelphia Climate Expo two years in a row for their Peer Mediation Program and positive climate data.

Shakeera has been an educator since 1999. She received the Lindback Award for Distinguished Principal Leadership in 2020, an award that recognizes and rewards school principals who have made significant leadership and humanitarian contributions to their school communities. Prior to becoming a principal, Shakeera served as a school-based teacher leader, instructional reform facilitator and 2nd/3rd grade teacher. Shakeera grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from Overbrook High School.

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