Prince William County Schools (PWCS) have a new superintendent! LaTanya McDade will begin her new assignment on July 1, assuming the responsibilities vacated by Dr. Steven Walts, who retires as superintendent on June 30, 2021. Mrs. McDade was unanimously recognized and introduced by the Prince William County School Board at its March 24 meeting.                                                                                                                                          

Mrs. McDade currently serves as chief education officer for the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) (see Executive Leadership | Chicago Public Schools (cps.edu)), a position she assumed in 2016.  During her tenure, she was in charge of the teaching and learning side of the school district. She oversaw the transition from classroom learning to computers when the COVID-19 pandemic erupted a year ago. McDade also led the district’s bargaining team in negotiating historic agreements with the Chicago Teachers Union in 2019 and 2021.

Prior to her current position, McDade was a teacher in the CPS, then became an elementary school principal and a network chief who oversaw principals. She has over 20 years total experience in the CPS, which is the third largest school district in the nation with over 340,000 students and a $3.4 billion budget.

McDade will be the first person of color and the first woman to lead the PWCS, the second largest school division in Virginia that serves over 90,000 students. Her primary objectives are to advance academic achievement and ensure equity for all students.

This spring McDade will complete her doctorate in education from Lewis University in Illinois. Her undergraduate degree is from Chicago State University and her master’s degree in leadership and administration was earned at Loyola University in Chicago.

— Posted by Tom Salmon for Doris, a fellow member of the Prince William and Manassas Family Alliance