Penn English lecturer appointed as new member of Philadelphia School Reform Commission

Penn’s connection to the School District of Philadelphia just got a little closer.

Mayor Michael Nutter, a 1979 Wharton School graduate, appointed Lorene Cary, lecturer in the Creative Writing Program within the English Department, to the School Reform Commission earlier this month.

Cary is the author of many novels including The Price of a Child, which was selected by the Free Library of Philadelphia as the One Book One Philadelphia piece in 2003. She has also written Black Ice, FREE! Great Escapes on the Underground Railroad and Pride along with articles for various publications. Her latest novel, If Sons, Then Heirs, was published in April.

Additionally, she is the founder of a nonprofit organization called Art Sanctuary which “uses the power of black art to transform individuals, unite groups of people and enrich and draw inspiration from the inner city,” Cary says on her website. Art Sanctuary also holds performances, invites established and aspiring artists to lead lectures and hosts an annual African-American arts festival.

In many ways, Cary’s appointment is unconventional. Typically, members of the SRC have backgrounds in business or education administration. Nutter’s first appointment to the SRC was Wendell Pritchett, chancellor of Rutgers University Camden campus. Pritchett is now the interim SRC chairman and is also a former Penn professor.

Some believe that given the $2.4 billion budget the SRC manages, Cary’s lack of financial expertise is cause for concern. “[Expertise in financial decision making] is not why I’m being brought on … What I will have to do is just work very hard to be a team member in that case, but not a leader,” Cary told the Philadelphia Daily News on Oct. 11.

“Lorene Cary is a nationally recognized writer, she has a tremendous education background, but for me what is truly outstanding is that she has an incredible passion for the well-being of children,” Nutter said in a statement. “She cares very personally about parents and she’s very much focused on supporting teachers. She will be a tremendous asset to the School Reform Commission and the children of Philadelphia.”

In the same statement, Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis said, “I am pleased to welcome Lorene to the SRC, as I believe her experience will be beneficial to the school district and the Commission. I look forward to working with her and her colleagues in the coming months as we address many of the critical issues facing the district.”

Cary’s students at Penn seem to be generally pleased with the news as well as the classes they took with her. “She was very entertaining and funny … she was very committed to allowing us to lead the class rather than her,” said 2011 College graduate Maura Goldstein, who took Cary’s class last spring. “I would consider it a positive experience … it was my first English writing class at Penn.”

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