Neubauer Fellows Community
Tim McKenna

Tim McKenna

Assistant Superintendent of Post-Secondary Readiness
School District of Philadelphia Headquarters
2015 Neubauer Fellow
Sector
District
Education
M.S. Educational Leadership, Administrative Certification, Lehigh University
Superintendent’s Letter, Arcadia University
M.S. Education, Holy Family
B.S. Business Administration,
Fordham University
“The Neubauer Fellowship was a powerful learning experience for me as a leader. Working with colleagues from Philadelphia and national experts in education opened my eyes to my leadership strengths and areas where I needed to grow. I am a better leader because of the learning opportunities that the Neubauer Fellowship provided me.”

Timothy McKenna was named Assistant Superintendent of Post-Secondary Readiness in 2024, and leads the district’s Office of Assessment and the Office of Evaluation, Research, and Accountability. Prior to this appointment, McKenna spent two years as Deputy Chief of Accountability in the Office of Evaluation, Research, and Accountability.

Prior to this role, Tim served as President of Central High School, Philadelphia’s oldest public school. Under his leadership (2012-2021) as the school’s 14th President, Central High School earned recognition from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the School District of Philadelphia for its continued excellence in academics.  In 2021, the Lenfest Foundation donated $100,000 to support Central’s 9th Grade Summer Bridge Initiative, fully funding the program for four years. In 2013, Central won the Governor’s Award for Academic Excellence and is annually recognized with the highest possible overall rating (“City Leader”) on the School District of Philadelphia School Progress Report (SPR).  In 2019 Central was again recognized as a Model School by the SPR with an overall score of 85.

Tim has been an educator since 1996. Prior to his role at Central, Tim was Principal at Furness High School (2008–2012) and led the school to a 10% increase in average daily attendance growth and meeting Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements. In addition, Tim was Principal at Frances Willard Elementary School (2006–2008), during which Willard Elementary achieved 20% gains in reading and 30% gains in math state assessment scores.

Tim’s professional honors include the Schoolmen’s Club of Philadelphia Martin Glassman Commitment to Education Award (2018), the Philadelphia Public League Coaches Association’s Administrator of the Year award (2009-2010), and ASPIRA, Inc. of Pennsylvania’s High School “Principal of the Year” award (2009-2010). Prior to becoming a principal, Tim served as reading specialist, school-based teacher leader, and teacher. Tim grew up in Philadelphia and attended St. Joseph’s Preparatory School.

Fellow Listing
Tim McKenna