LMSD Superintendent Nominated As New Pennsylvania Education Secretary

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA — The head of the Lower Merion School District has been floated as the next Pennsylvania Secretary of Education.

Governor-Elect Josh Shapiro has nominated district Superintendent Dr. Khalid Mumin to be Secretary of Education.

Mumin announced his departure from the district to take on the state-level role in a letter to the community.

"It is with mixed emotions I share with you that I will be leaving the Lower Merion School District to accept the position of Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," he said.

Mumin joined the district in 2021, filling the role that was vacated by Robert Copeland upon his retirement.

"It is an honor to serve Governor-Elect Shapiro and the people of Pennsylvania as Secretary of Education and help him carry out his vision so every child in Pennsylvania — regardless of race, class, or zip code — receives a quality education and the opportunity to shape their own future," Mumin said. "For over 25 years, I have served as a teacher, dean of students, principal, and school superintendent – and I know firsthand what it takes to move our education system forward. I look forward to working with the Governor-Elect to fully fund our schools, make our students’ mental health a priority, and empower parents and guardians to ensure their children receive a quality education."

Prior to joining the Lower Merion School District, Mumin was the superintendent at the Reading School District, a position he held since 2014.

He also served as superintendent at in Caroline County Public Schools in Maryland before that.

Other educational roles he's taken include Director of Elementary Education and middle school principal in the Centennial School District and as a middle school principal in New Hope-Solebury in Bucks County. He began his career teaching language arts and secondary English.

A Philadelphia native, Mumin earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, his Master’s Degree in Teaching and Curriculum from Penn State and his Bachelor’s Degree in English from Shippensburg, after earning an Associate’s Degree in the Liberal Arts from Northeastern Christian Junior College.

Shapiro also tapped Nancy Walker to be Secretary of Labor and Industry and Neil Weaver to be Secretary of Administration.

"I’m proud to nominate Dr. Khalid Mumin, Nancy Walker, and Neil Weaver to key cabinet posts in my Administration – they are important members of the diverse and experienced team of Pennsylvania leaders and policy experts who will be joining my Administration to tackle the challenges facing our Commonwealth today," Shapiro said. "I am ready to work with all three of them to create real opportunities for our children, build an economy that works for everyone, improve our schools, and lead the Commonwealth’s more than 75,000 employees. With these accomplished public servants in my cabinet, we will be ready to get to work to meet this moment and move our Commonwealth forward."

Mumin will leave the district on Jan. 17, according to Lower Merion Board of School Directors President Lucy Klain.

"Our plan as a School Board is to appoint an experienced Administrator as interim superintendent for the remainder of this school year, and to conduct a search for new Superintendent whom we hope to have in place prior to September 2023," she said in a letter to the community.

Klain congratulated Mumin on his appointment.

"While we are saddened to lose Dr. Mumin here in our District, we know that his energy and expertise will be beneficial to students across Pennsylvania," she said.

"I want to thank everyone who welcomed me and supported me during my time in Lower Merion. Being a part of this community has been a dream come true," Mumin said. "It is beyond what I could have imagined as a student who began at Philadelphia’s Olney High School to go to lead one of the most exceptional school districts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, if not the entire country. I will take the experiences I have gained here with me to Harrisburg with the hope of inspiring all children, scholars and academicians to infinite possibilities of success."