When it came time to create a schoolwide cell phone policy, Dr. Darrell A. Harris, Jr. knew he needed buy-in.
He surveyed teachers and parents, then held focus groups with students so they could co-create the policy. Educators on the school improvement team drafted the language.
“The policy was intentionally framed not as a punishment, but as a commitment to learning and respect – designed to reinforce our culture of support, safety and accountability,” Harris said. “One student remarked, ‘It feels like you actually listened to us instead of just making rules for us.’ This inclusive process built trust and ownership among all stakeholders before the policy was even launched.”
This buy-in strategy is a hallmark of Harris’ leadership. Eastern Guilford High School (EGHS) regularly hosts structured student focus groups to foster authentic dialogue. Schoolwide professional development events allow teachers to pick a topic that interests them from a Choice Board, and personalized teacher support plans are created for those struggling in a particular area.
To ease the high school transition for ninth-graders, Harris created a Freshman Academy that provides tailored instruction, collaborative teacher planning and early intervention to make sure every student is set up for success.
Harris fosters an identity-affirming school climate, prioritizing culturally responsive pedagogy and building close relationships with families of all backgrounds through events like the school’s annual multicultural celebration.
Once designated as a low-performing school, EGHS has achieved notable improvements in student proficiency and growth, while simultaneously elevating the quality and consistency of instruction across all classrooms. Last fall, the school received recognition in Guilford County as the winner of the 2025 Hubert B. Humphrey, Jr. School Improvement Award.
Dr. Whitney Oakley, superintendent of Guilford County Schools, describes Harris as a “visionary leader.”
“Dr. Harris is an exemplary educational leader who embodies the highest standards of the profession,” she wrote in a letter of recommendation to support Harris’ Principal of the Year application. “His portfolio is a chronicle of a principal who sets high expectations, provides the necessary support and consistently achieves extraordinary outcomes for all students. He is not just maintaining a school; he is transforming a community.”