Our special guest today is Dr. W. L. (Tony) Sawyer, the Superintendent of the Mount Vernon Public Schools. For more than 30 years Dr.  W. L. (Tony) Sawyer has served urban education in the following capacities: a teacher, an assistant principal, a principal, a deputy superintendent, a superintendent of Manhattan High Schools, in New York City, Superintendent of the Topeka Public Schools, USD 501 and currently serves as Superintendent of the Mount Vernon City School District.

Download | Duration: 00:53:24

Dr. Sawyer has established a positive reputation for working effectively with all members of the learning community and has received numerous awards and honors. Dr. Sawyer is noted for the establishment and design of smaller learning communities, which have led to greater academic success for students who, in larger organizations, sometimes fall between the cracks.

Sawyer understands the importance of ensuring that all principals are first and foremost instructional leaders.   It is his contention that every effort must be made to ensure that all children are appropriately served in every classroom.  This means establishing what he refers to as a “flexible delivery system” which focuses on addressing student needs based on their individual learning styles.  In his words, “An effective school is knowledgeable of the strategies necessary to meet the needs of a diverse learning community.” 

At the core of everything he stands for is his commitment to children. Dr. Sawyer has dedicated his life to ensuring that children are prepared academically and emotionally with the critical skills required for a lifetime of success.

Today’s program will focus on “Mount Vernon at an Educational Crossroads, Can We Afford the Future?” He will try to answer the question, Can the urban schools of Westchester compete with their neighbors, and close the learning gap?