Eastern High Principal Named Regional Principal of the Year 

What seemed like an invite to a district holiday event turned out to be a surprise for GCS Principal of the Year Darrell Harris, who learned today that he has been named Piedmont-Triad Regional Principal of the Year, making him a finalist for the Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year.  

The news was announced by reigning North Carolina Principal of the Year Jason Johnson, Ronnie Hewitt, the 2025 Piedmont-Triad Regional Principal of the Year and Piedmont-Triad Regional Director Dr. Tosha Diggs. Joining in the celebration were Harris’ fellow principals from Zone 4 and his wife, Ashley Harris.  

Under Harris’s leadership, Eastern High has experienced significant and rapid academic growth, moving off the state’s low-performing schools list last year. Over the last three years, the school has consistently maintained an 88% or higher graduation rate.  

Eastern High has embraced the Guilford Guarantee with its dedication to creating opportunities for students to be successful after college. Last year, the school showed an increase in the number of students taking college courses by more than 25 percent.  

Beyond academic metrics, Harris and his team have profoundly impacted the school's climate and operational health. He successfully reduced barriers to learning, evidenced by an 11.5% decrease in lost instructional days due to discipline referrals and a 5.9 percentage point decrease in chronically absent students. 

In her letter to the selection committee in support of his nomination, Superintendent Dr. Whitney Oakley wrote, “Dr. Harris is an exemplary educational leader who embodies the highest standards of the profession. 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. He is an outstanding choice for North Carolina Principal of the Year.” 

Harris will compete against other regional finalists and the charter school principal of the year for the title of Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year, which will be announced in May.