Linda Cliatt-Wayman, principal of Strawberry Mansion High School Promise Academy of Philadelphia, PA, will be at the Belo Mansion on Friday, August 1, at noon to participate in the Dallas Bar Association’s special series of programs “Dismantling the Schools to Prison Pipeline: What Can Lawyers Do?,” celebrating the 60th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education.
Mrs. Cliatt-Wayman will present “Turn This School Around,” which tells the story of how a prosecutor and a principal transformed Strawberry Mansion from one of the most dangerous high schools in the nation to a school of hope.
After 20 years as a classroom teacher, Mrs. Cliatt-Wayman decided to become a coach for new teachers and then principal in 2003. In 2005, she moved to Rhodes High School where she was credited with moving the school from 3% and 9% proficiency in math and reading as measured by the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA), to above 50% in both areas and ensuring a 94% college acceptance rate. From 2010 to 2012, Wayman served as assistant superintendent for all 52 high schools in Philadelphia.
In 2013, Mrs. Cliatt-Wayman decided to return to the neighborhood where she grew up to lead the merger of three area high schools. Her efforts to establish Strawberry Mansion High School as a safe and academic institute for learning have been featured on ABCs’ “Nightline” and “World News Report.” She received her B.A. from Kutztown University and M.A. from St. Joseph’s University.
The event is free and the public is welcome. Lunch is available for $12.76. Attorneys attending can qualify for one hour of continuing legal education (CLE).
The Belo Mansion, 2101 Ross Avenue in Downtown Dallas (in the Arts District). Parking is available in the Pavilion Garage for $4 (enter from Olive Street). For more information, contact the DBA at (214) 220-7400.
