Dr. Cheryl Watson-Harris

Cheryl Watson-Harris is an exceptional education leader with nearly three decades of experience in and out of the classroom. She has been described as a “champion for children,” drawing praise for her innovative leadership style that improves employee engagement and capacity throughout school systems and positively impacts student achievement. Throughout her 29-year career as an educator, administrator, and community leader, she has demonstrated outstanding skills and knowledge of teaching and learning, professional development, and community schools that remove barriers to success and create empowering opportunities for all children and their families.

A New York City native, Watson-Harris started her teaching career in 1993 in Brooklyn, NY. She was quickly praised as her district's nominee for the Mayoral "most excellent new teacher" award. After completing her master's degree from Harvard University, Watson-Harris joined the Boston Public Schools, where she was selected as the youngest principal in the district's history. She served as a turn-around principal for 15 years and was a Network Superintendent for Boston Public Schools before rejoining the New York City Department of Education. Watson-Harris served as the second in command of the New York City Department of Education as the First Deputy Chancellor. She led and supported 1600 schools and a diverse cohort of 1.1 million beautiful and brilliant scholars in this position while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. As Superintendent of Georgia's third-largest district, DeKalb County Schools, she successfully led the district’s reaccreditation and a ten-year comprehensive master planning process for the district's facilities. She has served as a resident mentor for the Harvard University Graduate School of Education Ed. L.D. program, a member of Harvard University Principal Center Advisory Board, and as a Leading Now Advisory Board member and Superintendent in Residence supporting national cohorts of Superintendents. 

Cheryl Watson-Harris and her husband, nationally recognized Distinguished Educator Dr. Roger F. Harris are the co-founders of Urban School Specialists, providing consulting and support to urban district and school leaders.

Watson-Harris holds a B.S.Ed. from Marymount College, an M. ED from Harvard University, and an Ed.D from New York University. 

She is driven by her belief that every child deserves a great school and strives to ensure that all students are on the pathway to success while districts and communities move Onward and Upwards!