A Big Bag of Optimism: Khalid Mumin’s Story
School Administrator, September 2022

Khalid Mumin, superintendent in Lower Merion, Pa., believes how one uses voice in a leadership role has direct bearing on culture in a school district. PHOTO BY READING, PA., PUBLIC SCHOOLS

When Khalid Mumin became superintendent in Lower Merion, Pa., he entered a community that wanted his brand of leadership. After serious discussions with the school board about their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, Mumin knew his experience, knowledge and skills could help the suburban Philadelphia system get to the next level.

Mumin inherited a foundation and culture of progressive ideas, deep community engagement and a willingness to put resources toward its vision and need.

Superintendents are counseled to take a job only if it’s a good fit. But good fit can’t be measured. It’s an unspoken feeling a leader has about the way school board members interact with each other, how the community speaks about its schools and how educators describe their work.

Mumin has understood throughout his career as a superintendent in three districts that voice is a key to his success. He is a slim, 6-foot-6, former college basketball player and a natty dresser with a big, infectious smile. I once visited him when he was superintendent in Reading, Pa., and it took us an hour to walk from his office to the restaurant down the street because he stopped to talk to every employee, shop clerk and person on the street. He brings boundless enthusiasm to the hard work of convincing a community that equity can be achieved.

As he shared with me, “I have a big bag of optimism and a small bag of non-negotiables.” His relentless optimism can be found in his public persona. Non-negotiables ensure his team collaborates in pursuit of their equity goals.

Growing Trust

In Reading, a blue-collar district of mostly Latino students, Mumin used his optimism to build up that community. He got them to embrace new possibilities and a DEI agenda by using student voice, communicating relentlessly and effectively on social media, building and supporting a great team, and validating the history of Reading.

He knows that a superintendent’s presence and visibility aren’t just about being seen at certain events. It’s also about listening to dreams and fears, hearing stories and sharing your own. A leader’s visibility can shape a culture by building trust between themselves and their communities.

The culture he found when he arrived in Lower Merion was established around pillars of excellence and equity. Lower Merion’s population is majority white, with a significant number of Black, Hispanic and Asian students. Mumin’s visibility is found by being present in the numerous committees that deal with school-related issues, including anti-racism and DEI.

One of Mumin’s non-negotiables is having a consistent message among board members, himself and senior staff. By being present at meetings and regularly checking in with the consultants who run them, he ensures educators, families and students hear the same thing from their leaders. Culture develops through actions and words. When a community hears leaders using similar language, they gain confidence that promises will be fulfilled.

Mumin also knows that culture is sustained through his team’s leadership. Not only does he insist they work together and have each other’s backs, he continues to highlight the positive aspects of their work. Just as couples are counseled to never go to bed angry, he ensures even when a meeting is focused on the problems that never seem to go away, they always end on something inspirational.

Finally, the hiring process is another culture lever that Mumin pulls to guarantee the right people are working in his schools. He knows that not hiring the right people to serve children is both a disservice to the community and can be hard to rectify. Through three superintendencies, Mumin has brought his own experiences, values, vision and big bag of optimism to ensure that schools serve young people at the absolute highest level.

—  JOSHUA STARR