The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation has a new leader. Maurice “Mo” Green recently began his new role as director of the organization after serving as the superintendent of Guilford County schools. He says his experience in education will help him in his new position.
It's been nearly two weeks since Green started his job as leader of the major foundation. The organization provides financial resources to non-profits that focus on public education, the environment and community development, among other things. Green says racial equity will be one of his priorities.
“We began to do some of that work with Guilford County Schools where we're trying to understand institutional racism, and be sure that was shared with all levels of the organization and begin to understand implicit bias issues,” says Green.
Green served as Guilford's superintendent for the past seven years. Before that he was an attorney with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and later became its deputy superintendent.
As for the search for a new leader in Guilford County, the process is underway. Green says there are a lot of successes in the district to build upon. The district has made progress in improving academic outcomes for students, especially for minorities and those that come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. He says that will still be an issue for the next superintendent.
Another challenge will be a lack of financial resources.
“Based on an analysis from a third party funded by Say Yes to Education, the report said the district runs a very lean operation,” says Green. “It also points out that the district needs an infusion of additional resources into the school system in order for it to be even better than it is right now.”
The North Carolina School Board Association is conducting the search. Guilford County School officials say 27 applications were submitted from 15 states.
The board will begin those reviews later this month.
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