WASHINGTON, DC-(WPMT) School District of Lancaster Superintendent Pedro Rivera is among a group of Latino Educations nationwide recognized as “Champions of Change” by the Obama Administration.
According to the White House, these “Champions” have distinguished themselves by devoting their time and energy to creating opportunities for young people to succeed, particularly in low income communities.
The group of leaders will be showcased on Monday morning next week as part of Hispanic Heritage Month at the White House in Washington, DC.
The program will feature remarks from Jim Shelton, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Education, Roberto Rodriguez, Deputy Assistant to the President for Education, and Alejandra Ceja, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics.
The School District of Lancaster serves a diverse student body of 11,500 students, which include 18% Special Education, 17% English Language Learners, 84% economically disadvantaged and approximately 1,000 homeless students throughout the course of a year.
The first Latino Superintendent in the District and a first-generation college graduate, Mr. Rivera emphasizes the importance of providing a high quality education for all students and uses his personal journey as an example for others to follow. Under his leadership, his team has developed and implemented a new PreK-12 curriculum, an aggressive professional
development plan, and innovative teacher observation tools.
The District takes pride in its rising graduation rates and steady gains in state assessment scores, while providing a nationally acclaimed music and arts program and a recent recognition by the Washington Post as one of the top twenty high schools for academic rigor.
Mr. Rivera serves as an Officer of the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, a member of the American Association of School Administrators, Officer of the Pennsylvania League of Urban Schools, and a member of both the Lancaster City Alliance and the United Way.
A passionate advocate for public education, Mr. Rivera is committed to graduating productive life-long learners who will greatly impact the future of America.
