Romules Durant, superintendent of Toledo Public Schools, received recognition as the 2024 Urban Educator of the Year at the Council of the Great City Schools’ 68th annual fall conference in Dallas.
Urban school leaders applauded Mr. Durant during the Council’s 35th annual Green-Garner Award Banquet Thursday night, where he received the prestigious leadership award.
“Romules Durant has been a transformational leader and a tireless advocate for students in Toledo Public Schools to become college and career-ready graduates,” said council Executive Director Ray Hart. “His vision, determination, and passion for excellence and his 11 years of steady leadership in the district has shown all of us in urban education what is possible. Our sincere congratulations to Romules and Toledo.”
Five big-city school superintendents competed for the nation’s highest honor in urban education leadership, recognizing, in alternating years, an outstanding superintendent and school board member from 78 of the largest urban public school systems in the country.
Sponsored by the council and Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education, and media company, the top prize is presented each year in memory of Richard R. Green, the first African-American chancellor of the New York City school system, and businessman Edward Garner, who served on the Denver school board.
A graduate of the Toledo school system, Mr. Durant is the longest serving superintendent in the council. Under his leadership, Toledo Schools has had five successful levy campaigns, graduation rates have increased, and gifted services for elementary students and Advanced Placement courses for high school students have expanded.
In addition, the district has opened five magnet high schools, including the new Toledo Pre-Medical Science and Health Science Academy, a school that focuses on preparing students for careers in the medical field.
On Monday, Mr. Durant explained his approach to public education at the Toledo Rotary Club’s luncheon.
“Last spring TPS had 30 students graduate from the University of Toledo with their associate’s degree before they graduated from Early College,” he said. “We are in the forefront of education. We noticed we did not have a lot of males in the medical program so we added sports medicine. Now we have more young men attending. In the end we want our graduates employed in a job they want, enlisted in the military, or enrolled in continuing education.”
Thomas Brady, founder of Plastics Technologies Inc., sent a letter of recommendation in August to the council in support of Mr. Durant.
In his letter Mr. Brady wrote about the 32 TPS career tech and 15 magnet schools.
“Dr. Durant has been the driver behind the creation of these award-winning schools and programs,” Mr. Brady wrote. “In 2022-23, Toledo Early College and Toledo Technology Academy were named the #1 and #2 best magnet schools in Ohio by Niche, an online service that connects students with the schools that best meet their interests and future goals. The schools earned the same distinction last school year.”
Mr. Brady went on to explain that Mr. Durant opened two more Boys & Girls Club extensions in key elementary schools, and TPS celebrated the first year of a pilot program that provides day-care services for teen moms who are continuing to attend high school and who have the opportunity to graduate with a four-year degree.
“As a result of all these innovative and effective approaches to urban education, the TPS graduation rate has improved dramatically,” Mr. Brady said. “To be clear, Dr. Durant has had huge support from his staff, his Career Tech teachers, and his principals, but Dr. Durant’s vision has been the driver behind these leading edge schools and programs, and his unrelenting commitment to involving area industry and the local nonprofit community, and to being personally involved with all the TPS K-12 schools and the students in those schools has been the key to the evolution of the Toledo Public Schools system over the past 10 years.”
U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) also sent a letter of recommendation.
“Dr. Romules Durant has a passion for public education and that has manifested itself inside and outside of the classroom,” Ms. Kaptur wrote. “Under his leadership at TPS, Ohio's fifth largest school district, has transformed into an educational leader by investing in the community it serves through nationally recognized magnet schools.”
The Rev. Randall Parker III, TPS school board president, said the award was a testament to the hard work Mr. Durant has done for the district and the community.
“The foundation of his vision has reached districts everywhere, not just in Toledo.” Mr. Parker said. “I am excited to work alongside him. He cares about our district and the kids. He is a rock star and is in the national spotlight so everyone can see what he has done locally to improve students’ lives.”
Bob Vasquez, TPS school board vice president, said he was not surprised that Mr. Durant was given the prestigious award.
“Dr. Durant is a visionary,” Mr. Vasquez said. “Everyone can now see what TPS is doing that no other district is doing.”
Mr. Vasquez said when people look at what has been accomplished, they are surprised.
“Once people are aware of the programs and magnet schools they are astonished,” he said. “He has the full support of the board. Because of all of the partnerships he has been able to develop, it is the only reason we have been able to do what we do. We have asked a lot of this community as well and the support in this community has also allowed us to get the programs and schools up and running.”
As the recipient of the 2024 Green-Garner Award, Mr. Durant has received a $10,000 college scholarship to present to a student in TPS.
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