CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education named Dr. Crystal Hill as the newest superintendent of the district.

“I do know and believe that every experience that I've had over the last 25 years has led me to this exact moment in time,” Hill said during a news conference.

What You Need To Know

  • Hill was named interim superintendent in January 2023

  • She took the interim position after Interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh stepped down in December

  • Hill began working for the district in May 2022, as Hattabaugh's chief of staff

  • Her contract will continue until June 2027

Those in favor of Hill say they chose the veteran educator for her work with student success rates, especially in her previous district of Cabarrus County. 

“I'm grounded in my why, which is students,” Hill said. “They're the No. 1 important thing and my focus.”

Hill had been interim superintendent since January after taking over for Hugh Hattabaugh. Hill began working for the district in May 2022 as Hattabaugh's chief of staff.

But for CMS parents, like Colette Forrest, the journey to get here has been a long and bumpy road.

“This will be the sixth superintendent that my son has seen since he began CMS in kindergarten,” Forrest said.

Forrest says she thought this search would be different.

The Board of Education even spent more than $50,000 partnering with an outside consulting firm for a nationwide search to fill the role.

“They need to explain to us their rationale,” Forrest said. “How did they come to make this decision?”

As for he board members, they say the nationwide search allowed them to prove Hill was the best candidate for the job.

“The result of that. Dr. Hill is the candidate that we have confidence and faith in is going to move this district forward,” Vice Chair Stephanie Sneed said. “If there was no national search process, what would we have it to compare to?”

While Forrest is excited for Hill to be the first Black woman at the helm of the district, she says she hopes her success with student performance will continue to move Black and brown children forward.

“As a Black woman as historic as her appointment is, I want to give her some grace because Ann Clark was given grace from the white community,” Forrest said. “I want to see results, though. I need to see the results. I need to see the needle move for Black and brown students.”

Hill’s contract with the district goes into effect July 1 and runs to June 30, 2027.

She will be paid a base salary of $300,000 per year.