About Zebra magazine. (Athens, Ga.) 1996-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1993)
EDUCATION Dr. Lucien Harris By Mary Clay Allen Dr. Lucien Harris, newly appointed Associate Superintendent of Clarke County Schools looked as he had just ex ited from Esquire Magazine, when I in terviewed him for this article. Im maculately dressed and openly friendly, he invited me to sit down and to feel comfortable in his modestly furnished office. A picture of his lovely wife and children adorns a table that faces Dr. Harris’ desk. Dr. Harris finished Tuskegee Univer sity, Tuskegee, Alabama in 1969, with a BS Degree in Biology. After teaching two years, he went back to Tuskegee and received a Master Degree in School Ad ministration. He spent the next 3 Vi years teaching in Auburn, Alabama and 1 year in Tuskegee. In 1973, Dr. Harris accepted a posi tion as assistant principal of Marietta Junior High School in Marietta, Georgia. During the seven years that he spent at Marietta Jr. High, he went to school at West Georgia College and got a Specialist Degree in School Administra tion and Educational Leadership. Dr. Harris was promoted to principal of an elementary school and then to prin cipal of Marietta Junior High School where he had earlier served as assistant principal. In 1987, Dr. Harris received the Ph.D. Degree in School Administration from Vanderbilt 1989, and was appointed Assistant Superintendent of Rome, Ga. Public School System. Dr. Harris’ responsibilities were many; the directors of food, social, student, public relations, maintenance & opera tions and transporation service were all accountable to Dr. Harris. He also had State Standards to supervise and coor dinate for the school district and all state and federal reports were made from his office. He served as board member of numerous organizations including the United Way, Chamber of Commerce, American Red Cross, Child Abuse Council, Boys and Girls Club and the Open Door Home, a place where abus ed children are taken until a safer home ZEBRA VOL. 1 ISSUE 5 has been found. Dr. Harris was also an active member of the Oak Hill Church of Christ. The Clarke County Board of Educa tion advertised the position of Associate Superintendent of Schools late last year and Dr. Harris applied for and was selected from a list of applicants. He reported to work on July 1st. Dr. Harris said his first few months will be spent visiting the elementary, mid dle and high schools. He wants to get to know the principals and personnel in the district. In his role of Associate Superintendent, Dr. Harris serves as Chief Operational Officer in charge of administering to the system and making decisions on behalf of the system on a daily basis. Questions and problems that arise in the schools are referred to him. Dr. Harris will supervise the Board of Education’s Policy Committee, and work closely with Dr. Ballentine and the Board in initiating and designing policies for the district. Titles 9 and 6, Average Daily Attendance (ADA) and Handicap 504 are also programs under his division. One problem that Dr. Harris will focus on is school attendance. Last year over 1400 students accumulated more than the 20 absentee days in the Clarke County School District. Dr. Harris wants to put a plan in place whereby those students will know that the District expects them to be in school and that they need to be in school. He thinks that parents, schools, and the whole community must work together to make this attendance policy work. Something will be said on the intercom every day, at each school about the importance of regular attendance. Dr. Harris said one big goal of the Board of Educaiton is to help each stu dent meet his full potential, whether at a vocational school or a four-year institu tion, and to be successful in his/her chosen career. Dr. Harris stresses maintain ing, discipline in the schools because lit tle learning takes place when discipline is lacking. He will work with principals and teachers to make sure that classrooms are free of disruptive students. Dr. & Mrs. Harris are the proud parents of three children, a daughter 21, and sons 18 and 14 years of age. Already Dr. Harris has moved into the mainstream of Clarke County con tributing citizens. Zebra welcomes Dr. Harris and his family to the Athens com munity and wishes him success in his new position. 9
