New Hanover County Schools Superintendent Dr. Charles Foust named the 2024-25 Regional Superintendent of the Year

Apr 23 2024

New Hanover County Schools Superintendent Dr. Charles Foust

named the 2024-25 Regional Superintendent of the Year

Dr. Foust was chosen by his peers, which include superintendents from 12 school districts in the Southeast Region (district 2).

"I am humbled by this honor and I have so much gratitude to my fellow superintendents throughout our region for their support,” Foust said. “As leaders we try to illuminate the path to excellence and empower teachers and students, but we don’t do this work alone. This recognition is a testament to the collective dedication of our entire educational community."

Dr. Foust will now represent the southeast region in the state-level competition against seven other regions, and compete for the A. Craig Phillips State Superintendent of the Year award.

In his fourth year as superintendent of New Hanover County Schools, Dr. Foust has led efforts to increase academic achievement and school performance throughout the district, expand CTE pathways and other academic opportunities for students, and strengthen business and community partnerships.

Dr. Foust has worked in education for more than 25 years and has served as Superintendent of New Hanover County Schools since September 2020.

The Southeast Regional Principal of the Year is also from New Hanover County Schools: Christianne May, principal of Castle Hayne Elementary.

Highlights from Dr. Foust’s tenure as NHCS Superintendent:

Led New Hanover County Schools to #15 out of out of 115 districts in the state
Facilitated funding from the General Assembly for:
- $3.2 million to participate in school safety pilot program
- $210,000 for tutoring
- $2.8 million for Wilmington Chamber of Commerce to expand the Career Leadership Development Academy for 7th graders throughout the district
Seven NHCS schools ranked in the U.S. News and World Report's top 100 in NC
Bellamy Elementary named a National Blue Ribbon School
Ninety percent of NHCS schools met or exceeded growth last year
Fourteen schools increased a letter grade
Formed Turnaround Task Force with community and business stakeholders to improve low-performing schools
Five schools came off low-performing list
Expanded academic and CTE Pathway partnerships with Cape Fear Community College and UNCW
NCDPI's First-Ever Champion of Change for extraordinary and comprehensive efforts to improve student literacy.
NHCS named a “Promising Practice” district by NCDPI
YMCA Impact Award for Partner of the Year