Orange County Schools’ Dr. Sheldon Lanier Completes the NCSSA Aspiring Superintendents Program Cohort IX

Orange County Schools proudly announces that Chief Equity and Student Achievement Officer Dr. Sheldon Lanier was among 39 distinguished school and district leaders across the state to graduate from the ninth cohort of the North Carolina School Superintendents' Association (NCSSA) Aspiring Superintendents Program in March of 2025.

"The program is designed to support the growth, expansion, and enhancement of school and district leaders in their current roles while providing high-quality professional development to strengthen their knowledge of the skills and dispositions required for future superintendents," said Jack Hoke, Executive Director of the North Carolina School Superintendents' Association.

The North Carolina Aspiring Superintendents Program is a highly specialized leadership development initiative tailored for select district leaders who have demonstrated exceptional success in their administrative roles and aspire to the superintendency. Offered through the NCSSA and the North Carolina Alliance for School Leadership Development, the program equips future superintendents with technical expertise, leadership strategies for navigating the complexities of the role, and contemporary skills essential for 21st-century educational leadership.

Participants engage in multiple face-to-face leadership development sessions and benefit from an embedded Executive Coaching component with proven leaders in the field. To date, 52 alumni from the program’s first eight cohorts have been appointed to superintendencies across North Carolina.

Reflecting on Dr. Lanier’s participation, Hoke remarked, “Dr. Lanier cultivated a strong network of district leaders and actively contributed to discussions on emerging challenges, innovative practices, and strategic solutions impacting Orange County Schools.”

Orange County Schools Superintendent Dr. Danielle Jones said, “I congratulate Dr. Lanier for taking this step to advance his educational leadership. He consistently leads schools and colleagues in pursuit of the goals set out in our strategic plan, and I look forward to seeing him continue to promote positive outcomes for every student in our schools.”

Dr. Lanier stated, "It was a true honor and privilege to be selected and to complete the Aspiring Superintendents Program under the leadership of Jack Hoke. The professional learning that was provided gave key insights into the position and skills needed for success in the role. I really appreciated the opportunities to network and build community with colleagues from across the state."

Before joining Orange County Schools in 2024, Dr. Lanier served as Principal of Sherwood Githens Middle School and W. J. Brogden Middle School in Durham Public Schools starting in 2018 and 2020, respectively. He directed Equity Leadership and AVID programs for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools from 2014 to 2018, after teaching and school administrator roles in Wake County Public School System starting in 2001.

Dr. Lanier received his Doctorate in Education, Specialist in Education, and Master of School Administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics at North Carolina State University. He holds licenses in school administration (superintendent and principal), and grades 6-9 mathematics and science. He has presented frequently at the state and national level on educational equity and culturally-responsive teaching to support every student.

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