Gene R. Carter, Ed.D.
ASCD Executive Director, Chief Executive Officer
Large Small (Addressing Change: From Policy to Practice)

     An educator and administrator, Gene R. Carter assumed the position of Executive Director of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) in 1992. Before joining ASCD, Dr. Carter served for nine years as the superintendent of schools in Norfolk, Virginia, where he succeeded in reducing the dropout rate, built a partnership program with the private sector, implemented a districtwide school improvement program, established an early childhood education center for three-year-olds and their parents, and implemented a regional scholarship foundation for public school students.
    Dr. Carter serves on the Board of Trustees of Virginia Wesleyan College; the American Bar Association Advisory Commission on Public Education; the America-Israel Friendship League Education Advisory Committee; the Southern Education Foundation, Inc., Board of Trustees; the Education Commission of the States Advisory Board; the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom Advisory Board at Virginia Wesleyan College; the Norfolk Southern Corporation Board of Directors; HOSTS Inc. Advisory Committee; the National Commission on Service Learning; and the National Commission on Asia in the Schools. He also served for seven years on the Board of Visitors of Old Dominion University.
    A native of Staunton, Virginia, Dr. Carter received his bachelor's degree in history from Virginia State University and received a master's degree in educational administration from Boston University. Having taught U.S. government, world history, and English for nine years, he attended Teachers College, Columbia University, and received a doctorate in instructional and curricular practice in 1973. He has also received an honorary Doctor of Law degree from Virginia State University and an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Old Dominion University.
    During his fruitful career, Dr. Carter has received many honors and awards. In 1991, he was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from Teachers College, Columbia University. He was presented the Annual Leadership for Learning Award in 1990 by the American Association of School Administrators. In 1988, he was selected the first National Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators. He is listed in Who's Who Among Black Americans. In 1984, 1990, and 1993, The Executive Educator magazine named him one of the top 100 Executive Educators in North America.
Dr. Carter was presented the Brotherhood Citation by the National Conference of Christians and Jews in 1985. He was also selected the Outstanding School Superintendent in Virginia in 1985 by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts based on his contribution and support of the arts in Norfolk and the Hampton Roads community in Virginia. Carter was awarded the Presidential Citation by the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education on March 31, 1985.
     His many contributions to the strengthening of American democracy and civic values remind us of our country's best attributes. His passionate dedication to widening educational opportunity and enhancing international understanding are well known. He has provided leadership training throughout the nation and the world. He has participated in international education seminars in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and Taiwan. Dr. Carter has also led professional delegations to the Caribbean, Japan, the Netherlands, People's Republic of China, the Republic of South Africa, and Vietnam.
     Dr. Carter has written numerous articles and book chapters concentrating on education issues and topics, and he is the coauthor of The American School Superintendent: Leading in an Age of Pressure (Jossey-Bass Inc., Publishers, 1997).