William C. Harrison, Ed.D., a native of Pennsylvania, has called Fayetteville, NC, home for more than 25 years, remaining in Fayetteville to teach after earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Intermediate Education in 1974 from Methodist College in Fayetteville. After leaving Cumberland County in 1988 to serve in several school leadership positions, he returned in August 1997 as Superintendent of the Cumberland County Schools, the fourth largest school system in North Carolina and the 79^th largest in the nation. 

Dr. Harrison was awarded a Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration in 1977 and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Administration in 1980 from East Carolina University, Greenville, NC.  In 1985, he earned an Educational Doctorate degree in Educational Administration from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.

Dr. Harrison began his teaching career at Vanstory Elementary School in the Fayetteville City Schools in 1975 and remained in the Fayetteville City Schools and the merged Fayetteville City Schools/Cumberland County Schools until 1988, serving as a teacher and principal.  He served as principal for Walker-Spivey Elementary School from 1979-1983 and as principal of Terry Sanford High School from 1983-1988.

He was selected as Assistant Superintendent for Brunswick County Schools in 1988 and served in this capacity until his selection as Superintendent of Hoke County Schools in 1991.  He served as Superintendent of Orange County Schools from 1995 until August 1997 when he returned to Fayetteville, NC, as Superintendent of Cumberland County Schools.

Dr. Harrison has continuously contributed to the enhancement of the teaching profession by teaching in various institutions of higher education.  He currently is an adjunct assistant professor at NC State University and served formerly in adjunct positions at UNC-Pembroke, East Carolina University, UNC-Wilmington, Fayetteville State University, and Fayetteville Technical Community College. 

A strong commitment to improving teaching and learning in public education causes Dr. Harrison to devote considerable time and effort to state and national initiatives.  He has served as Chairman for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Study Committee on Student Portfolios, the North Carolina School Improvement Panel’s Sub-Committee on Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, the North Carolina State Board of Education Committee on Staff Development and Co-Chaired a State Board Committee on Teacher Recruitment.  He is presently Co-Chairman of the Education Lottery Oversight Committee.  He was elected to a four-year term on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association in 1997, serving as the Association’s president in 2002-2003.  He also serves as Vice-President of the Military Child Education Coalition. 

At the local level, Dr. Harrison is intensely involved in many community activities, including service as an ex-officio member of the Cumberland County Business Council, the United Way of Cumberland County, and the Cumberland County Education Foundation.  He is a member of Highland Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville.

Dr. Harrison and his wife, Judy, have two children, William, a student at UNC-Chapel Hill, and Caroline, a high school junior in the Cumberland County Schools.