Woman who led several large school districts dies of cancer

Arlene Ackeman, a longtime school district admnistrator who most recently served as superintendent of the Philadelphia district, has died of cancer. Ackerman led Philadelphia's school system from 2008 to 2011, The Philadelphia Inquirer says. She began teaching in 1968, working in public schools in St. Louis, Chicago, and Seattle as a teacher, principal, and administrator. She served as superintendent of the Washington, D.C., school system from 1998 through 2000, then led the San Francisco district until 2006.