The North Carolina Association of School Administrators and the North Carolina School Boards Association have partnered since 2005 to award this distinguished honor to a public school superintendent. Being named NC Superintendent of the Year is the highest honor bestowed on a North Carolina superintendent. The winner of this prestigious award competes for the title of National Superintendent of the Year and serves as an adviser to the State Board of Education.

Congratulations to Dr. Jim Merrill, Superintendent of Wake County Schools, who was named the 2017 A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the Year at an awards presentation and reception held Nov. 17 in Greensboro. The award was given jointly by the North Carolina Association of School Administrators (NCASA) and the North Carolina School Boards Association (NCSBA). Scholastic sponsored the award and provided a $5,000 award to the winner. Dr. Merrill will represent his colleagues and all of North Carolina public schools well in the AASA National Superintendent of the Year competition.

Along with Merrill, all 2017 Regional Superintendents of the Year were honored:

Region 1 | Northeast | Mr. Melvin Hawkins, Camden County Schools
Region 2 | Southeast | Mr. Rick Stout, Onslow County Schools
Region 3 | Central | Dr. James Merrill, Wake County Schools
Region 4 | Sandhills | Dr. Robert Taylor, Bladen County Schools
Region 5 | Piedmont/Triad | Dr. Lory Morrow, Davidson County Schools
Region 6 | Southwest | Mr. Jeff Booker, Gaston County Schools
Region 7 | Northwest | Mr. Larry Putnam, Burke County Schools
Region 8 | Western | Dr. Tony Baldwin, Buncombe County Schools

Congratulations to all the nominees and thank you for your continued work for the children of North Carolina.