Bennett to lead secondary curriculum and instruction
DURHAM—Christopher J. Bennett, Executive Director of Advanced Academics, has been named Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Curriculum and Instruction. He will replace Patrick Rhodes, who has been appointed Superintendent of Orange County Schools.
Bennett, who has served in his current capacity since October 2006, was previously Executive Director of Choice Programs for two years. Before that, he was Principal of Durham School of the Arts for three years.
Prior to being named principal, Bennett had served as assistant principal of Carrington Middle School and DSA for several years. He had also served as a teacher at DSA. Before coming to Durham Public Schools he taught at the high school level in the Alamance-Burlington, Guilford County and Reidsville City School Systems.
“The majority of my career has been spent working as either a teacher or administrator at the secondary level, and researching programs that could best serve our middle and high school students,” said Bennett. “Assuming this position is both an honor and a challenge, both of which I am excited to accept. I very much look forward to working with the incredible DPS administration and middle and high school principals and staff members as we continue to look at ways to increase student achievement.”
Bennett holds a Master of Arts degree in School Administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, along with a B.A. from UNC-Chapel Hill. He received the North Carolina Administrative License in 2001, and is a former Teacher of the Year.
“Chris Bennett is a wonderful choice to lead our important work in secondary curriculum and instruction,” said Superintendent Carl E. Harris. “For the last two years, we have been working diligently on middle and high school improvement, and he has been an integral part of these efforts all along the way. Under his leadership, we will ensure that we continue on a successful track toward making our middle and high schools the best they can be.”
###
