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Terry B. Grier, Ed.D. |
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Since Grier’s start date of March 24, 2008, the district has cut more than $250 million from its operating budget due to a decrease in state funding—eliminating more than 350 central office positions. In the face of these difficult budget reductions, San Diego Unified has still seen impressive improvements in indicators of student and district success. Significant improvements in district performance under Grier’s management include:
- Dropout rate reduced from 18% in 2007 to 9% in 2008
- In 2008-09, San Diego Unified high school students recovered 4,535 course credits previously lost to failing grades using a new on-line credit recovery program
- Increased the number of Advanced Placement Courses taken from 9,442 in 2008 to 10,447 in 2009
- Increased the number of Advanced Placement Courses taken by Hispanic students by 734
- Increased the number of breakfasts served to San Diego Unified students from $3.6M in 2008 to $4.9M in 2009
- Scores on the 2008-09 California Standards Test increased to all-time district highs--more growth in one year than the three previous year's combined:
- 5 percentage point gain in Language Arts—composite grades 2-11
- 4 percentage point gain in Mathematics—composite grades 2-11
- 7 percentage point gain in Science—composite grades 2-11
- Implemented a $50 million five-year technology upgrade program bringing more than 5,000 laptop computers into classrooms during year one
- $2.1 billion bond measure approved by the voters in November 2008
Prior to coming to San Diego, Grier served as superintendent of the 71,000+ student, award-winning Guilford County School District in Greensboro, North Carolina—a position he held from May 2000 to March 2008. In 2008 he was named that state's Superintendent of the Year by the North Carolina School Boards Association.
Grier is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the National Dropout Prevention Network and has also served on the Board of Directors of the National School Public Relations Association and has been a member of the National Coca-Cola Scholars Selection Committee.
In 2008 he was presented the prestigious Effie H. Jones Humanitarian Award by the American Association of School Administrators in recognition for his exceptional contribution and commitment to diversity in the field of public education with high quality leaders. He has been honored by his undergraduate and graduate universities, being named Outstanding Alumni by East Carolina University and receiving Peabody College of Vanderbilt University’s Distinguished Alumni Award. He earned his doctoral degree in education from Vanderbilt University.
Grier has published more than 50 articles in educational journals and is a frequent speaker at national and state educational conferences. He has also been featured in national educational publications such as: Education Week, Urban Educator and Scholastic Administr@tor for his innovative ideas and proven leadership in education.
San Diego Unified School District currently serves more 135,000 students, from preschool through grade 12. Founded on July 1, 1854, the district has grown from a small, rented school building with one teacher to being the second largest school district in California. The district encompasses more than 200 square miles, includes 221 educational facilities, and more than 24,000 employees, including hourly and visiting teachers.
