Mount Airy City Schools has hired a new executive to fill a hole in the central office.
Dr. Phillip Brown has been named the executive director for teaching and learning, which has been vacant since a promotion over the summer at the highest level.
When she rejoined MACS more than three years ago, Dr. Kim Morrison was hired to be executive director for teaching and learning. Then her roles expanded, and she was given the title of chief academic and innovation officer.
In June, Morrison was named superintendent to replace Dr. Greg Little, who moved to South Carolina. Little announced his departure in January, but stayed on through April, giving the board three months to prepare. Morrison was selected from a pool of 24 possible choices.
Now the district is ready to fill Morrison’s original job description with Brown, a Montgomery County native who earned his BA in Liberal Arts from St. Andrew Presbyterian College, his Master of School Administration from University of North Carolina Pembroke, and his doctoral degree from Wingate University.
For Montgomery County, Brown was director of secondary/career and technology education. Mount Airy officials said he has a wide range of K-12 experience such as being an instructional technology coordinator, distance and e-learning coordinator, science, coaching, and literacy trainer through North Carolina Teacher Academy, and an elementary teacher. He also worked at Montgomery Community College where he was an adjunct technology and education instructor.
Among his achievements was working with his county commissioners to support funding for the creation of an early college and expanded career and technical opportunities for students.
Dr. Brown also wrote and managed numerous grants including ACCESS Investing in Innovation, Golden Leaf, Project LEAD Math Science Project, METAL – After School Quality Improvement Grant, and MERIT – 21st Century Learning Center Grant. These grants totaled almost $8 million in innovative funding for his district, according to the city schools.
“I am thrilled to be joining Mount Airy City Schools,” said Brown. “My family and I are looking forward to becoming members of the Mount Airy community. It is exciting to be part of an innovative district with such a strong, dedicated and accomplished staff.”
“We are extremely excited to have someone of Dr. Phillip Brown’s caliber,” said Morrison. “His K-12 experience from the schoolhouse to the central office, as well as agencies outside of his district, have prepared him well.
“We are impressed with his accomplishments and his passion for students in their preparation to be college- and career-ready. Dr. Brown is a wonderful fit for Mount Airy City Schools and his skills are aligned with our vision.”
The local school system listed a wide range of responsibilities in its job description.
“This position will manage overall delivery of instruction, including teaching support and learning management. The position serves as a coaching resource for all instructional staff and helps define district goals for planning, development, implementing and maintaining instructional services.”
As part of the job, the new executive will focus on student learning as the primary district goal; conduct in-service training programs for teachers and administrators on current trends and professional growth needs; develop a variety of documents and presentation materials for local, regional, state and national trainings; coordinate Title III planning, AIG planning and working with the exceptional children instructors; and manage the budget and fiscal responsibilities of instructional programs.
The next meeting of the Board of Education is Dec. 20 at Jones Elementary School. Brown is expected to join the district for the second semester in mid-January.
