Dr. Beth Folger

Chief Academic Officer

Dr. Beth Folger is the chief academic officer for Guilford County Schools. She has served the district since 2005 in several capacities. As the district’s chief academic officer, Folger provides oversight for four of the district’s five regional offices and the divisions of Curriculum and Instruction, Exceptional Children and Student Services. She provides leadership for the improvement of student achievement in grades pre-K through 12.

Folger started her career as an elementary and middle school math teacher for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Over the years, she has served as an educational consultant, an elementary school principal and an associate superintendent. She joined GCS in 2005 as an instructional improvement officer. The following year, she became the district’s executive director of secondary curriculum and instruction. In 2007, she was promoted to chief curriculum and organizational development officer. For a portion of the 2008-09 school year, she held the additional title of interim chief academic officer, and in October 2008, she was promoted to the position.

Folger holds a doctorate degree in education from Ashland University in Ohio, a master’s degree in school administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a bachelor’s degree in intermediate education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her professional affiliations include the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the North Carolina chapter of the American Association of School Administrators, the National Association of Middle School Principals, the National Staff Development Council and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). She has made dozens of presentations across the country on student achievement, the achievement gap and continuous improvement. She also has served as an adjunct graduate professor of education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.