The Pittsburgh Public Schools board leadership structure will be much the same in 2023 as it was this year, following the annual board reorganization vote Monday.
The board, though, will lose one leader in the next election cycle as she decided against running for another term.
Sala Udin — a second-term board member from the Hill District, former City Council member and Freedom Rider — will serve as board president for a second consecutive year after a 6-3 vote.
Udin voted for himself and was joined by board members Kevin Carter, Pam Harbin, Jamie Piotrowski, Tracey Reed and Devon Taliaferro. Gene Walker, who was also nominated for board president, Bill Gallagher and Sylvia Wilson voted against Udin.
Taliaferro, of the North Side, and Harbin, of Squirrel Hill, will serve another year as first vice president and second vice president, respectively.
Harbin will be the second vice president during what will be her last year on the board, after announcing this week that she will not seek reelection.
Harbin, who was elected in 2019, has been one of the more vocal board members as an advocate for students with disabilities and a proponent of strong COVID-19 safety measures.
She wrote on Facebook that although her “passion and desire to fight for the education that students deserve remains as strong as ever, unfortunately, I have new health concerns that need my attention.” Harbin added she will “make the most” of her last year on the board.
In a phone call Wednesday, Harbin emphasized she intends to continue her advocacy for fair and equitable public education after her term is done.
“I’m not done fighting,” she said. “I’m never going to give up.”
Andrew writes about education and more for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at agoldstein@unionprogress.com.