Boston Picks New Head of Public Schools

An educator with a track record of collaboration, innovation and working with students with disabilities has been selected as the new superintendent of Boston's public schools.

The Boston School Committee on Tuesday night voted 5-2 to hire Tommy Chang, who's currently an instructional superintendent in the Los Angeles Unified School District's Intensive Support and Innovation Center.

Committee Chairman Michael O'Neill called the 39-year-old Chang a "quiet visionary" and cited his focus on students with disabilities and bilingual learners, as well as his ability to relate to teachers and students as important factors in the selection.

Chang said in a statement that as the birthplace of public education in America, Boston needs to serve as a model.

The Boston school department oversees more than 57,000 students in 128 schools.