Dr. Hamlet Officially Sworn In As New PPS Superintendent

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – After weeks of controversy, Pittsburgh Public Schools' new superintendent was sworn in Friday morning.

Dr. Anthony Hamlet was sworn in for a five-year term during a ceremony at the Pittsburgh Public Schools Administration Building.

"I'm eager to get started with the most important work in the city - providing quality education to our students," Hamlet said.

Hamlet also apologized for concerns about his resume that prompted several school board meetings.

After today's ceremony, he held his first official site visit as superintendent at Camp Milliones.

Earlier this week, the school board voted to retain Hamlet at a special meeting after reviewing the results of an independent investigation of his credentials.

The vote to hire him back in May was unanimous, but then came the troubling news of discrepancies in his performance ratings and plagiarism on his resume.

Hamlet was taken to task for claiming successes as the principal of two Florida schools with data that differs from state records. He also lifted most of a statement from a Washington Post editorial in describing his educational philosophy.

"I regret the concern this situation has caused and I apologize to the parents and communities for this unintended distraction. My focus has always been the children," Hamlet said in a written statement.

Hamlet will undergo quarterly evaluations to make sure his performance is up to par.

After being sworn in, he addressed the media and referenced the criticisms his resume received.

"I was extremely surprised, honestly so, but I was sent here for a purpose. I think I was brought here for a specific reason. I think I was placed here for a specific reason," he said. "Ultimately, it's not about Anthony Hamlet, it's about the children of Pittsburgh Public Schools and what they need moving forward."

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