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Tom Wyatt is humble about the work he’s done as the Education Committee Chair of the Passyunk Square Civic Association (PSCA): “The one main thing is that I haven’t done anything on my own, that’s for sure.” It’s his commitment to public education and community school opportunities in South Philadelphia that’s contagious, and the reason his peer on the PSCA board, Jared Klein, nominated Wyatt as a difference maker. “Since joing our Board last year, Tom has worked tirelessly to enhance our relationship with Jackson Elementary and has generated a positive, cooperative relationship between school and community,” Klein wrote.
The father to a 2-and-a-half-year-old and a four-month-old infant, Wyatt is hopeful that leadership both at the Philadelphia School District and his local schools (Jackson, Kirkbride and Southwark, too) stays strong so that he can enroll his children in good faith. The Teach for America alum, who taught “back in the ‘90s in the deep south of Missisippi,” believes good schools means good neighborhoods. “I think that having competitive, high-performing neighborhood schools is the first building block of any great city and great neighborhood. So I’ve been trying to live that ethic of constructiveness.”
“My wife and I are both a product of public schooling and we want to live in Philadelphia and we think we’re very fortunate to have a great neighborhood school,” the longtime attorney told me as he and his family strolled to the East Passyunk Ave. fountain. He’s also quick to cite effective current school leaders as facilitators for community involvement. “This alliance has been with Principal Kaplan and Jackson – she’s been very active, a tremendous leader. She’s somebody who is a born coalition-builder and it’s pretty easy to be a part of her growing army,” he joked.
He’s contributed manpower at events, helped raise funds for the school’s green roof garden and brand new playground, and, according to Klein, is notable for “his compassion in assisting the school through a crisis earlier this year.” That would be the loss of a child on school grounds last school year. Wyatt loves the idea that, when you stay in a city you love and support your public school, you can use the entire city as a classroom. “We want to be fortunate enough that our kids will be able to use Philadelphia as her classroom. And we’re gonna put our leaders to the test and if it doesn’t work, they can leave. I’m staying.”
Staff Writer Bill Chenevert at bchenevert@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
2014 Difference Makers
/ L. Jay Agnes / Christine M. Beady / Jessica Calter / Mikki Capo /
/ Barbara Capozzi / Giovanna Cavaliere /
/ Christopher DiCapua / Marlo and Jason Dilks / Marie DiStefano / Beth Dougherty /
/ Cornell Drummond / Maureen Fratantoni / Etrulia (Trudy) Gay / Jess Gould /
/ David and Lisa Grainge / Richie Lazer / Tim Lidiak /
/ Shane Martin / Laura McColgan / Akhenaton Mikell / Russell Shoemaker / Lionel Simmons / Tom Wyatt/
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