Featured Alumni

CARL EDWARD HARRIS

The Broad Superintendents Academy Class of 2002
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Strategic Initiatives
United States Department of Education

“The complex process of educating students—along with political realities, economic issues and social problems—makes the job of the superintendent one of the most challenging of all chief executives. This undertaking is magnified for the urban superintendent: changing technologies, numerous state and federal regulations, changing demographics, board member turnover, school privatization and teacher empowerment have dramatically changed the role.”

In January 2010, Carl Harris was appointed deputy assistant secretary for policy and strategic initiatives for the United States Department of Education in Washington, D.C. Harris previously served as superintendent of Durham Public Schools. He began leading the North Carolina district, its 46 schools and nearly 32,000 students in July 2006. Prior to becoming superintendent, Harris served the district as deputy superintendent and as assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. A native of Franklin County, N.C., Harris also served as superintendent of that public school system where he was responsible for 13 schools, more than 7,700 students, 965 employees, and an operating budget of more than million. During his education career, Harris has served in a variety of roles including classroom teacher, coach and district office administrator. He has a Bachelor of Arts in health and physical education from Southwest State University in Marshall, Minn., a Master of Arts in education and a Master of Arts in administration from East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C.; and a doctorate in education administration from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C..  Harris is a graduate of the 2002 class of The Broad Superintendents Academy.