CHARLOTTE — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is searching for a new superintendent following the school board’s decision to fire Dr. Crystal Hill.
The upcoming leadership appointment will mark the district’s eighth permanent superintendent in a decade.
The district’s school board is preparing to establish the structure and guidelines for the search process.
A primary initial decision involves determining whether to hire an outside search firm, an option favored by CMS board Chair Dee Rankin.
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Summer Nunn, a former CMS school board member who represented District six and chaired the district’s previous superintendent search committee, noted that managing the process requires navigating multiple moving parts.
“That group is in charge of conducting and figuring out how we run the search?” Nunn said. Reflecting on the board’s upcoming choices, she added, “I’m interested to see if they will choose to do the same again considering we just did this.”
Nunn expressed concern regarding the pool of potential candidates, noting that public board tension could affect recruitment efforts.
“Generally speaking, you want someone with experience, especially in that top 20 range. So, it is challenging, and the pools are not very big,” Nunn said. “If I am a superintendent looking for a job, from the outside it feels very messy right now. So, I’m worried that’s going to discourage candidates from wanting to apply.”
CMS board Chair Rankin offered a contrasting view on candidate recruitment, stating that he does not believe recent controversies will discourage qualified applicants from applying for the district’s top leadership position.
Despite concerns surrounding board dynamics, Nunn highlighted the district’s foundational strengths, citing strong school performance and dedicated staff.
“We have tremendous schools. We have great principals, great teachers. Performance is really good,” Nunn said.
She emphasized that securing the right leader remains essential for CMS. “It’s always important to get the best person for the job. That was our goal last time as well. That should be our goal every single time,” Nunn said.