Dr. William R. Hite, Jr., is the former superintendent of The School District of Philadelphia (SDP), the largest public school system in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. During his 10 years overseeing the district, Dr. Hite worked to create a system of great schools in every neighborhood with an emphasis on quality and equity. Under his leadership, SDP opened new innovative high schools; expanded successful school models; launched in-district turnaround efforts; redesigned schools in partnership with communities; and strengthened elementary and secondary school offerings.

Before joining SDP, Dr. Hite was superintendent of Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) in Maryland, where a core focus of his work involved increasing access and rigor to help ensure all students graduate prepared for college and careers. During his tenure, PGCPS received national recognition for expanding Advanced Placement courses. Dr. Hite also previously served as an assistant superintendent in Georgia’s Cobb County School District, and, as an administrator in Henrico County, Va., led Highland Springs High School to receive Best Practices honors from the state. He has experience at every level of the education system, including roles as principal and teacher.

In addition, Dr. Hite has been an adjunct faculty member at the University of Richmond School of Continuous Learning and has taught school leadership courses at Virginia State University, Bowie State University, and the University of Maryland. A member of numerous national, state, and local boards, he has participated in a variety of initiatives and associations aimed at improving K-12 education. Dr. Hite holds a bachelor’s in education from Virginia Tech; a master’s in educational leadership from the University of Virginia; and a doctorate in education, with a specialization in educational leadership, from Virginia Tech.