Featured Alumni

JOHN COVINGTON

The Broad Superintendents Academy Class of 2008
Superintendent
Kansas City, Missouri School District

“When the status of our nation, relative to measurable student academic achievement, is compared to other industrialized nations, the results are both staggering and frightening. The educational stewardship of the nation’s youth rests on the shoulders of public school superintendents. Their success and the success of their districts may very well determine the future of our economy and the freedoms we all enjoy and take for granted. In this regard, I am driven to make a meaningful contribution to improve public education as an urban superintendent.”

In July 2009, John Covington was appointed superintendent of the Kansas City, Missouri School District which serves nearly 18,000 students in over 60 schools. Previously, Covington served as superintendent of Pueblo School District 60 in Pueblo, Colo. The Pueblo district—with a minority population of 66 percent and 64 percent of its students eligible for free or reduced price lunch—has been nationally recognized for closing the achievement gap. Prior to leading the Pueblo district, Covington served as superintendent of Lowndes County Public Schools in Montgomery, Ala. for six years. At the end of Covington’s tenure, every school in the district made Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) as determined by the state of Alabama and as required by the No Child Left Behind Act. Previously, Covington served as executive assistant to the superintendent and as assistant superintendent for student support and community services for the Montgomery district. Prior to his tenure in Montgomery, Covington served in numerous capacities in Macon County, Troy City and Eufaula City Public Schools, all in Alabama. He was named as a distinguished alumnus by Alabama State University, Japan Fulbright Scholar in 2005, and received the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) Award in 2007. Covington has a bachelor’s degree in political science and sociology; a master’s degree in guidance and counseling and an education specialist degree from Alabama State University; a master’s of education certification in school administration and supervision from Troy University; and a doctorate in educational leadership from Auburn University.  Covington is a graduate of the 2008 class of The Broad Superintendents Academy.