Title
Honoring the life and legacy of Constance Clayton, the first African American and first woman superintendent of the Philadelphia School District.
Body
WHEREAS, Constance Clayton, 89, served as a trailblazer and was an educator for the Philadelphia School District for more than three decades, serving as a fourth-grade teacher for nine years, spent five years designing social studies curriculum for elementary grades, ten years as the Associate Superintendent of the Early Childhood Program for the Philadelphia school system, and finally served a decade as the Superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia, until her retirement in 1993; and
WHEREAS, Constance Clayton left an ingrained mark on the hearts and minds of countless young people through her unwavering commitment to educational excellence, equity, and social justice; and
WHEREAS, Constance Clayton's visionary leadership has greatly improved educational opportunities for students, instilling a belief in the potential of every student, regardless of their background, and advocating for equal access to quality education; and
WHEREAS, During her years as superintendent, Constance focused on the students' needs by advocating for youth that in the past were overlooked by the educational system; and
WHEREAS, Outside of education, Constance had been collecting African American art and was a consistent advocate for African American artists for over 30 years; and
WHEREAS, Constance Clayton passed on Monday, September 18, 2023 and will be greatly missed after more than three decades of service, and her legacy will be forever felt; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor the life and legacy of Constance Clayton, the first African American and first woman superintendent of the Philadelphia School District.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an engrossed copy be presented to the family of Constance Clayton, further evidencing the sincere admiration and re...
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