CMSD NEWS BUREAU
10/24/2014
Superintendent Terry Grier of the Houston Independent School
District has been named 2014 Urban Educator of the Year by the Council of the Great City Schools.
Cleveland Metropolitan School District CEO Eric Gordon was one of five finalists for the award, which was presented Thursday night at council's annual fall conference in Milwaukee. The council represents 67 of the largest urban school systems in the country. It was the second time in three years that Gordon was named a finalist.
Grier received the Green-Garner Award, the nation’s highest honor for urban
education leadership. The award is presented in alternate years to a superintendent and school board member.
Cleveland board Chair Denise Link won the award last year.
The award is named for Richard R. Green, the first African-American chancellor of the New York City school system, and businessman Edward Garner, who served on the Denver school board. The council, Aramark K-12 Education and
Voyager Sopris Learning companies sponsor the award, which comes with a $10,000 scholarship given to a student selected by the winner.
Grier has served as superintendent of the nation’s seventh largest school district since 2009. According to the council, he he is credited with
accelerating academic gains to produce a higher graduation rate, especially among African-American and Hispanic students. The district also has substantially reduced the student dropout rate.
“Superintendent Terry Grier knows how to confront challenges in urban education and
has the commitment, experience and energy to overcome the odds to provide a quality education
for students,” Council Executive Director Michael Casserly said.
