Philadelphia Chief Education Officer Otis Hackney visits RHD’s School Therapeutic Services at F.S. Edmonds

Philadelphia Chief Education Officer Otis D. Hackney III visited F.S. Edmonds, one of the city’s community schools, to see RHD’s RHD’s School Therapeutic Services. RHD’s School Therapeutic Services is an intensive, short-term service offered in selected schools in the Philadelphia School District. STS was developed to support students whose emotional and behavioral issues create barriers to their school success. Hackney met with RHD staff and talked about the collaboration between the mayor’s office community school staff, RHD, the families and community at large.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney selected Hackney as his Chief Education Officer tasked with advancing two priorities — working with the School District of Philadelphia to create more community schools and expanding access to pre-kindergarten.

A Philadelphia native, Hackney began his career as a mathematics teacher at Germantown High School. After stints in different schools, he returned to South Philadelphia High School as principal, where he successfully helped heal divisions after high-profile instances of racially motivated school violence. Under Hackney’s leadership, the school also adopted a “community school” approach by creating unique partnerships with supportive service providers. Mayor Kenney appointed Hackney to serve as the City of Philadelphia’s chief education officer, because he believes that our students come first and will work to improve opportunities for every child.