Durham superintendent to leave, work for Obama administration

Durham Public Schools superintendent Carl E. Harris will leave the school system at the end of the calendar year in order to work for the U.S. Department of Education, according to a news release sent this morning.

Harris has accepted a position as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education for Policy and Strategic Initiatives with the federal agency.

“It is with heavy but deeply grateful hearts that the members of the Durham Public Schools Board of Education accept the resignation of Dr. Carl Harris. Dr. Harris has provided a quiet strength in his leadership of our district over the past three-and-a-half years,” said Minnie Forte-Brown, chairwoman of the Durham school board. "Durham’s loss is definitely our nation’s gain. We wish him well as he takes his wisdom and his experience to Washington to improve schools across our country.”

Harris has served as superintendent of Durham Public Schools since July 1, 2006. Previously, he was the superintendent of Franklin County Schools.

Update: Harris is expected to stay in his post through "at least" Dec. 31, according to DPS spokesman Michael Yarbrough. The school board will soon decide who will serve as an interim superintendent, he said. They'll then work out the details for picking a new superintendent. The board's next meeting is Nov. 19.

The full news release is posted after the jump:

Dr. Carl E. Harris, Superintendent of Durham Public Schools has accepted a position as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Education for Policy and Strategic Initiatives with the U.S. Department of Education.

Harris has served as Superintendent of Durham Public Schools since July 1, 2006. He previously served as Deputy Superintendent. At DPS, his focus is on advancing academic achievement, fostering relationships with parents, businesses and the community and improving school administrative leadership.

From 1999 until 2004, Dr. Harris was Superintendent of Franklin County Schools, where he was instrumental in bringing about significant increases in student achievement for all ethnic groups.

The Central Carolina Regional Superintendent of the Year award was presented to Dr. Harris in August 2009. Earlier in the year, Dr. Harris was appointed a member of a steering committee of The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards to develop advanced certification for school administrators.

Among a number of DPS accomplishments during Harris’s tenure are:

o Increased student achievement in a number of areas;

o A lower dropout rate

o Increased Advanced Placement participation and identification of Academically Gifted Students

Six new schools opened in Durham under Harris’s administration, with a seventh in the works. Hillside New Tech High School, Southern School of Engineering, City of Medicine Academy, Spring Valley Elementary School, the Performance Learning Center and the Holton Career and Resource Center all have opened in the last three years. Lakewood Middle Montessori School will begin serving sixth-graders next fall and will open in the renovated Lakewood YMCA in fall 2011.

“Durham is a community that truly cares about its children. I am proud that we have earned the respect and support of our community,” said Harris. “I am especially proud of the leaders we have in place at the district and school level. We have great classroom teachers who focus each day on improving academic achievement for all students and many other dedicated staff members who support teaching and learning. The collaboration among our leaders, teachers, staff and parents will allow Durham Public Schools to continue providing quality educational opportunities for all students.”

“It is with heavy but deeply grateful hearts that the members of the Durham Public Schools Board of Education accept the resignation of Dr. Carl Harris. Dr. Harris has provided a quiet strength in his leadership of our district over the past three-and-a-half years,” said Minnie Forte-Brown, Chair of the Durham Public Schools Board of Education. “Dr. Harris leaves a school system that has improved academic achievement, a significantly lower dropout rate and a slate of new schools that offer support targeted to specific student needs. Durham’s loss is definitely our nation’s gain. We wish him well as he takes his wisdom and his experience to Washington to improve schools across our country.”