John W. Modest, Jr., principal of West Charlotte High of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), was named one of five regional superintendents for Guilford County Schools (GCS) on April 7, 2009. He will lead the Northern Region.
Modest holds more than 30 years of experience in public education, including almost 20 years with Wake County Public Schools from 1986-2005.

Before joining CMS in 2005, Modest was principal of Southeast Raleigh High School Center for Leadership and Learning, a 2,200-student  math, science and technology magnet school, for almost 10 years. 

Modest guided staff and students to success each year, always meeting or exceeding North Carolina State ABC Accountability standards for student achievement. The school also was recognized as a Governor’s Entrepreneurial School of Excellence.

Before serving as an administrator at the high school level, Modest gained nine years’ experience at the middle school level in both principal and assistant principal capacities. During this time, Daniels Middle School and North Garner Middle School were each awarded $200,000 grants with Modest’s help.

Modest spent the first half of his career in the Boston area. From 1978-85, he was the Director of METCO Program for Lexington Public Schools. Funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the voluntary program expands educational opportunities, increases diversity and reduces racial isolation. He also served in the same capacity for Framingham Public Schools from 1973-76.

Modest began his career in the classroom as a history teacher and developed the first African-American history curriculum to be taught in the public schools of Massachusetts.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Northeastern University and a Master of Arts in Administration and Supervision from North Carolina Central University.  Modest has a grown daughter named Naja.  He and his wife Annetta are expecting their first child this month.

Click here to view a video message from Modest.