2012 Speaker

Dr. Gene Harris, PhD, is the 2012 commencement speaker

Dr. Gene Harris is the 19th superintendent of the Columbus City Schools (CCS). The largest Ohio district, CCS serves the needs of more than 51,000 students in 118 schools, and over 7,700 employees. She’s a Columbus native with deep roots in the local community and direct experience with public schools as diverse as Ghana and China.

Harris holds a doctorate from Ohio University (OU), earned her master’s degree from The Ohio State University, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, and a honorary doctorate from Franklin University. A graduate of Linden-McKinley High School, Harris was admitted to Notre Dame as an upperclassman in the first year the school accepted women. After graduating, she returned to the district to teach English and drama, moving from the classroom to a supervisor of principals and then deputy superintendent in 2000. She became superintendent in 2001.

Harris understands that strong public schools are essential to our nation’s future. She asks staff, parents, and community members to “reach higher” so that every student achieves to the level of his or her full potential.

Since 2002, CCS has invested more than $521 million in new facilities, with the work completed on time and within budget. In 2008, voters approved a combined 7.85 mill levy and 1.13 mill bond issue, generating $77 million annually in operating funds. From this bond issue, $123 million is being used to replace or renovate 10 more schools and $41 million to purchase new buses, textbooks and computers – while making $76 million in reductions to remain fiscally responsible. Other initiatives target increased parent and community engagement, and higher standards of customer service.

In 2010-2011 school year, Harris implemented several new initiatives; the opening of two gender—based middle schools, one for boys and one for girls, a new international high school and a new k-8 international studies program. These programs are in addition to the STEM focused schools district wide which uses technology, classroom lessons and industry internships to prepare students for work in the key fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. U.S. News and World Report ranked 12 of the district’s high schools among the nation’s best in their 2010 America’s Best High Schools report; one high school receiving the “silver” award designation and 11 others receiving a “Bronze” designation.

Academic Initiatives include a no cost Summer Institute to help students pass the Ohio Graduation Test; a K-12 summer program available to all students; a Virtual High School Program which enables students to earn credits online; and the Credit Recovery Program that allows students to retake classes and continue to earn credits toward graduation.

Other academic gains include the creation of the CCS Higher Education Partnership (HEP) which provides a single point of contact between the district and 10 central Ohio colleges/universities to develop programs that boost student achievement and college readiness.

Initiatives aligned under the HEP include the Seniors to Sophomores program, the Africentric Early College at Columbus State Community College, the DeVry Advantage Academy, the Columbus Teaching Academy on The Ohio State University (OSU) campus, and the Schoenbaum Family Center located on the Weinland Park campus. The district also partners with I Know I Can, a college access program in Columbus.

The Seniors to Sophomores program allows high school students to earn one year of college credit from local institutions of higher learning. The DeVry Advantage Academy started in July 2006. By June 2011, approximately 112 CCS students attended DeVry University full-time their last two years of high school and through dual credit, earned both their high school diploma and an Associates Degree in Network Systems Administration/Web Graphic Design.

A Columbus Rotary member, Harris serves on the Board of Trustees of OU and Action for Children. Currently a Sunday school teacher and Trustee at the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, she is married to Stanley Harris, Vice President of PNC Bank. Their son, Wade Thomas Harris, his wife and their sons reside in New Jersey.