Maurice "Mo" Green took the oath of office today, ushering in his tenure as North Carolina's Superintendent of Public Instruction with a pledge to propel the state's education system to new heights of excellence. The ceremony, attended by a cohort of state education leaders and local dignitaries, was held at the Meredith Leigh Haynes-Bennie Lee Inman Education Center. "After more than 20 years of working in education, I am humbled and honored that North Carolinians have chosen me to lead our public schools," Green said.
In his inaugural address, Green laid out a vision to make North Carolina’s public schools the best in the nation, emphasizing the need to couple academic achievement with strong character development. The backdrop of Green’s swearing-in, an education center that serves students with significant disabilities, was a poignant tribute to his mother, a special education teacher. It also underscored his commitment to inclusive education, as Haynes-Inman is renowned for its distinction as a 2024 State School of Character.
The Honorable N. Carlton Tilley, Jr., Senior United States District Judge for the Middle District of North Carolina, administered the oath to Green. Known for his previous role as senior superintendent of the Guilford County Schools (GCS) and a clerkship with Judge Tilley, Green's legal and educational acumen have long been assets to the region. Several key figures, including State Board of Education Vice Chair Alan Duncan, and NC Representative Amos Quick, who have previously worked with Green during his GCS tenure, were among those who offered remarks at the event.
Leah Carper, recognized as the 2022 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Teacher of the Year, and Magan Gonzales-Smith, a consultant for Public School Forum of North Carolina, also contributed to the ceremony's reflection on education. The students from Weaver Academy for Performing & Visual Arts and Advanced Technology, provided a special performance that lent flair to the official proceedings. This intersection of political ceremony and artistic expression symbolized the type of holistic educational environment that Green aspires to cultivate across North Carolina's schools.
