Durham Public Schools Superintendent Carl E. Harris is the 2010 Central Carolina Regional Superintendent of the Year.

Harris was selected by his peers for this award at a meeting last week. This recognition makes him a nominee for North Carolina Superintendent of the Year.

The announcement of this honor was made by Dr. Lawrence Walker, Executive Director of the Central Carolina Regional Educational Service Alliance. The Central Region is a 15-member district composed of the following school districts: Caswell, Chapel Hill-Carrboro, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Johnston, Nash-Rocky Mount, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake, Warren and Wilson.

Harris became Superintendent of Durham Public Schools on 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.

In 2008, Dr. Harris received the University Council for Educational Administration Educational Leadership Award. He was one of 33 educators recognized nationally and the only educator in the state of North Carolina to receive the honor. He also was recognized by the North Carolina Association for the Gifted and Talented that year. The National Association for Gifted Children presented him with the NAGC Educator Award in 2006. Fidelity Investments presented him with the "Inspire the Future" Award in 2008.

In 2009, 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. Dr. Harris is a past president of the North Carolina Association of School Administrators. He chaired the North Carolina Textbook Commission and formerly chaired the North Carolina State Council of the Commissions of the Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (CASI), Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Currently, Dr. Harris serves on the NC School Technology Commission. He also is the chair of the Central Carolina Regional Education Services Alliance.

Superintendent Harris serves as faculty advisor to the Broad Urban Superintendents Academy, a national training program for superintendents. In 2002, Dr. Harris was named a Broad Center Fellow, one of 23 professionals from across the nation who completed the inaugural class of the Academy, sponsored by the Broad Foundation in Los Angeles.

Harris has presented at state and national conferences, including the National School Boards Association conference and the North Carolina Summer Leadership Conference for School Administrators.

Harris earned a doctorate degree in Education Administration from North Carolina State University, where he currently serves as adjunct professor. He also holds a Master of Arts in Education, a Master of Administration, and an Education Specialist degree in Administration and Supervision from East Carolina University, along with a B.S. in Health and Physical Education from Southwest State University.

"The superintendents in the Central Carolina region wholeheartedly endorsed the selection of Dr. Carl Harris to represent them in the state competition," said Walker. "As the Superintendent of Durham Public Schools and formerly as Superintendent in Franklin County, Dr. Harris has proven to be a leader and mentor to educators in this region."

The Regional Superintendent of the Year program is a part of the National Superintendent of the Year selection that is sponsored by the American Association of School Administration. The program has recognized school leaders for 22 years.