Nutter appoints Rutgers-Camden chancellor to School Reform Commission

A fast-acting Mayor Michael Nutter has appointed a new School Reform Commission member following the resignations of member John Irizarry and chairman Robert Archie.

“I am very pleased to appoint someone with the qualifications, the imagination and the commitment to public education of Wendell Pritchett,” Nutter said today. “He has demonstrated real leadership in the areas of education, local government and sustainable community development for many years.”

Pritchett is the chancellor of Rutgers-Camden, where he oversees about 1,000 employees and an annual budget of more than $50 million. He’s served earlier roles at Penn’s law and arts and sciences schools.

 

Back in 2008, Pritchett was Nutter’s deputy chief of staff and director of policy, during which time he wrote the five-year plan and budget, and reorganized the city’s anti-poverty programs.

“I am honored by this invitation to serve on the School Reform Commission and look forward to working with a committed group of commissioners and educators who are also dedicated to the students in Philadelphia schools,” Pritchett said in the announcement. Pritchett lives in University City.

Archie and Irizarry resigned yesterday, prompting a flurry of kindly worded responses from Nutter and acting School District Superintendent Leroy Nunery.