ASHEVILLE ― Jennifer Reed, who has been serving as the Buncombe County Schools interim superintendent,will be appointed permanently, the district announced.
She is only the second woman to fill the top leadership position since the district was formed in 1881. Ethel Terrell, who served from 1919 to 1921, was the first woman superintendent not only in the district but in North Carolina.
The district announced Reed's permanent hiring Thursday, Sept. 24. She had served in the temporary role since Sept. 1, following Superintendent Rob Jackson's retirement.
"I have a passion for students, I love seeing them learn and grow, building relationships with students and families. Being part of a school family and the larger community really brings me a lot
of joy," Reed told the Citizen Times on July 16 after the district announced she would be the interim superintendent.
Reed is the 23rd superintendent of Buncombe County Schools, hired after the Board of Education conducted an extensive four-month search for Jackson's replacement that began in early June.
The process began with a broad survey of employees, students, parents and other community members, receiving comments from about 830 employees and 650 community stakeholders. The board then conducted a regional search in North Carolina and surrounding states. Finally, the board held two rounds of interviews before selecting Reed. Her contract runs through June 30, 2030.
“After a four-month search guided by our board attorney, Dean Shatley, Dr. Jennifer Reed clearly emerged from a pool of strong candidates from across N.C. and multiple states as precisely the leader we sought,” said Board of Education Chair Rob Elliot. “She has a strong track record of developing important relationships with key community partners who support students, families and teachers with critical resources. Her outstanding career accomplishments are coupled with a deep understanding of the needs of the students and educators in our county."
A lifelong resident of Buncombe County, Reed graduated from Enka High School in 1996. After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Reed began her career in 2000 as a fourth grade teacher at the then-new Hominy Valley Elementary School, where she obtained National Board Certification.
She went on to earn a master’s degree in elementary education and her principal licensure from Western Carolina University. She earned a doctorate in educational leadership from WCU in May 2023.
Since then, Reed has served as an assistant principal and instructional coach at various schools; principal of Fairview Elementary School from 2012 to 2017; district director of elementary and intermediate education from 2017 to 2022; and associate superintendent of curriculum and instruction, a role she held until being named interim superintendent.
“I step into this role with tremendous gratitude for what has been built and an equally strong commitment to what comes next,” Reed said. “Our students deserve a school system that is ambitious about their future, intentional about how we use our resources and relentless in ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed."
Jennifer Reed's awards and recognitions
Reed completed the 2023 The North Carolina School Superintendents' Association Aspiring Superintendent Program and received the Dr. Samuel Houston Leadership Award. In 2024, she was honored as the Asheville Chamber of Commerce’s Woman Executive of the Year.
She lives in Candler with her husband of 21 years and has two children.
Buncombe County Schools is North Carolina’s 13th-largest school system and the largest in Western North Carolina. The district employs more than 3,500 people and serves more than 21,100 students, making it the county’s second-largest employer after Mission Health, according to the North Carolina Department of Commerce. More than 55 languages are spoken in its 45 schools.
Kara Fohner is the Public Safety Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Email her at kfohner@usatodayco.com or call her at 980-241-8671.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Jennifer Reed to be Buncombe Schools' 2nd ever woman superintendent
