The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education is pleased to announce the selection and appointment of Dr. Jim Causby as the Interim Superintendent of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS). Dr. Causby will take office on August 1, 2016 and will serve until the board selects a permanent superintendent.After speaking with several potential candidates, the board determined that Dr. Causby’s extensive leadership, experience, and dedication to students would best serve the CHCCS students, staff, and community as the board continues its search for a permanent superintendent. The board is confident that Dr. Causby will continue the district’s efforts and will enable a smooth transition of leadership.
"In considering several people for an interim superintendent, we were pleased to hear how Dr. Causby’s deep understanding of the interim superintendent role and emphasis on working with all staff fit with CHCCS and this board,” said Board of Education Chair James Barrett. “That will allow us to keep what is working in this overall high-performing district while continuing our focus on areas we need to improve. Having Dr. Causby in place will allow the board to focus more of our time on listening to the school community about what we require in a new superintendent and ensuring that we find the best candidate possible for this district."
A native of McDowell County, Dr. Causby has enjoyed a long and successful career in North Carolina’s public education system, including 27 years as a superintendent in four districts. He is currently semi-retired and works as an education and marketing consultant. Dr. Causby has a wide range of experience from the classroom to the central office, starting out as a teacher and coach before moving up to principal and ultimately superintendent positions. He has had success as a superintendent leading Swain County Schools for 11 years, Polk County Schools for five years, and Johnston County Schools for 10 years. He also served as interim superintendent of Hickory City Schools in 2011. From 2004 to 2013, Dr. Causby led two statewide organizations, serving as Executive Director of the North Carolina Association of School Administrators (NCASA) and the North Carolina School Superintendents Association (NCSSA). His exemplary service and leadership have often been recognized; he was named NC Superintendent of the Year three times and was named to the Order of the Long Leaf Pine – North Carolina’s highest civilian award.
Dr. Causby has an impressive academic background as well. He completed his undergraduate degree and master’s in elementary education at Western Carolina University. He obtained his education specialists degree from Appalachian State University in 1975, and his doctorate in education administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1988.
Dr. Causby looks forward to the opportunity to lead CHCCS through this transitional period. He has issued the following statement: “I am extremely honored and excited that the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education has chosen me to serve as Interim Superintendent while they seek a permanent superintendent. The reputation and success of the school system is widely recognized, and the culture of high expectations and excellence found there is one that I look forward to being a part of. It is my belief that every student can achieve at very high levels, and I want to help ensure that all 12,000+ students in the school system do that.”
Please join the board in welcoming Dr. Causby as the new Interim Superintendent of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.
