GCS Chief Academic Officer Receives National Award

Guilford County Schools (GCS) Chief Academic Officer Beth Folger has been selected by the Council of the Great City Schools to receive the Pearson Education Curriculum Leadership Award.

Folger will be recognized during the 2011 Curriculum and Research Directors meeting in Memphis, Tenn., July 14 -16. The Pearson Education Curriculum Leadership Award is presented each year to a senior school official who has demonstrated leadership, innovation, commitment and professionalism in the field of curriculum development and implementation.

Folger holds a bachelor’s degree in intermediate education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a master’s degree in school administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a doctorate degree in education from Ashland University in Ohio.

She began her career in education as an elementary and middle school math teacher for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Over the years, she has served as an elementary school principal, associate superintendent and as an educational consultant. In 2005, Folger joined GCS as an instructional improvement officer. The following year, she was promoted to executive director of secondary curriculum and instruction for the district. In October 2008, Folger was promoted to her current position as chief academic officer for GCS.

Folger provides oversight for four of the district’s five regional offices, as well as the divisions of Curriculum and Instruction, Exceptional Children and Student Services.

“Her high expectations combined with her passion for education and for children have made GCS one of the top districts in the state,” said Dr. Zwadyk, chief curriculum and organizational development officer for GCS.

The Council of the Great City Schools was established in 1956 and is the only national organization that exclusively represents the needs of urban public schools. Its goal is to engage parents and the community in an effort to create a committed and supportive urban environment conducive to learning and raising the achievement of schoolchildren.