This fall Harrison A. Peters will rely on his more than 15 years of experience as a teacher, principal, and administrator as he leads HISD’s High School Office. As chief high schools officer, Peters will oversee 51 campuses with a combined enrollment of nearly 50,000 students. He and a team of school support officers and principals will focus on increasing student outcomes, expanding academic rigor and connecting students to experiences that support their career and college goals.

“Harrison’s experience and leadership will help us continue raising academic achievement levels for students from all backgrounds,” said Chief School Support Officer Dr. Shonda Huery Hardman. “We must become goal-oriented and result-driven. It is the administrator who creates a great school, and he is the perfect person to lead our efforts to achieve success at every high school.”

Prior to joining HISD, Peters managed a unique K-12 network of 37 schools on the southside of Chicago as a chief of schools in the Chicago Public Schools system. He has also served as a middle school principal in Orlando and a high school principal in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. He began his career as an elementary teacher in Orange County Public Schools in Florida.

Peters earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from University of West Florida and a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from Nova Southeastern University. He also served in the U.S. Navy.