Flint, Mich., schools Superintendent Bilal Tawwab started his job two years ago, expecting the toughest challenge of his career.
What he ended up with was that—and more.
Since Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, a Flint pediatrician, discovered in 2015 that an alarming number of children in the city have lead poisoning, Tawwab has taken the lead on several measures to ensure the crisis wouldn’t stand in the way of education for the 5,000-plus students under his care.
While maintaining a focus on test scores, enrollment, and budget concerns, he’s also served as the voice for thousands of children already suffering under the strains of poverty and poor-performing schools. He was among the school administrators honored as a 2017 Education Week Leader to Learn From.
In this PBS NewsHour piece, Education Week correspondent Kavitha Cardoza profiled Tawwab, taking a look at the challenges that remain for him and the district’s children and families.
Related Stories and Videos
Bilal Tawwab: Recognized for Leadership in Crisis Management
Water Contamination Raises Health Concerns for Flint Residents