William C. Harrison served as chairman of the

North Carolina State Board of Education The North Carolina State Board of Education, established by Article 9 of the Constitution of North Carolina, supervises and administers the public school systems of North Carolina. The board sets policy and general procedures for public school syst ...

, which sets policy for the

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) oversees the public school system in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The DPI is headed by the State Superintendent and the North Carolina State Board of Education. It is headquarte ...

, from 2009 through 2013. He was the first person to serve as both State Board of Education Chairman and as "chief executive officer," a position created by Gov.

Beverly Perdue Beverly Marlene Eaves Perdue (née Moore; January 14, 1947) is an American businesswoman, politician, and member of the Democratic Party who served as the 73rd governor of North Carolina from 2009 to 2013. She was the first female governor o ...

in 2009 to consolidate authority and accountability for public schools in North Carolina. After a state superior court judge ruled that Perdue had overstepped her constitutional authority by making him CEO, Harrison stepped down from that role, while continuing to be chairman of the board.News & Observer: Harrison retiring as schools CEO
/ref> A native of Pennsylvania, Dr. Harrison has served as Superintendent of local school systems in

Cumberland County Cumberland County may refer to: Australia * Cumberland County, New South Wales * the former name of Cumberland Land District, Tasmania, Australia Canada *Cumberland County, Nova Scotia United Kingdom * Cumberland, historic county *Cumberl ...

, Orange County, and

Hoke County Hoke County is a county in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 52,082. Its county seat is Raeford. The county is home to part of the Fort Bragg military reservation. History Early history The original ...

. He has also served as an Assistant Superintendent in Brunswick County Schools and as a principal and teacher. Dr. Harrison holds a bachelor's degree in Intermediate Education from Methodist College, a master's degree in Educational Administration and an Education Specialist degree in Education Administration from

East Carolina University East Carolina University (ECU) is a public university in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. It is the List of universities in North Carolina by enrollment, fourth largest university in North Carolina and the only one in the state with s ...

, and an Educational doctorate in Education Administration from

Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt University (informally Vandy or VU) is a private university, private research university in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, it was named in honor of shipping and railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provide ...

References

NC State Board of Education Member Profiles
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harrison, William C. Living people American school administrators East Carolina University alumni Methodist University alumni Vanderbilt University alumni 21st-century North Carolina politicians Year of birth missing (living people)