Crystal L. Hill, Ed.D., serves as superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), the 16th largest public school system in the United States and the second largest in North Carolina. CMS educates approximately 140,000 students across 185 schools with the support of nearly 20,000 employees.

Prior to her appointment as superintendent, she served Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools as interim superintendent, where she facilitated the district’s first fully funded county budget request in recent history.

In July 2023, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education selected Dr. Hill as the district’s superintendent. Since her appointment, she has led the district in making significant improvements in academic outcomes for students. These include record gains in academic growth, which are the highest in CMS history; outstanding increases in grade-level proficiency; and phenomenal school performance, all reflecting the collective efforts of CMS students, teachers, staff, families and community partners.

During her tenure, Dr. Hill also has implemented a comprehensive organizational restructuringdesigned to ensure success and endless possibilities for all students.

Dr. Hill also led the district’s successful, historic $2.5 billion bond campaign, which is the largest in North Carolina history. Mecklenburg County Commissioners also confirmed their confidence in Hill’s leadership and vision with a fully funded budget request for the third consecutive year.

An educator at her core, Dr. Hill began her 28-year career as a first grade teacher in Guilford County Schools. She has served in multiple instructional and executive roles in school districts throughout North Carolina.

She currently serves on the Boards of Directors for Leading on Opportunity Council, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte School of Education, READ Charlotte, Road to Hire and the North Carolina Association of School Administrators. She also co-chaired the North Carolina State Board of Education Literacy Task Force.

Dr. Hill was named the 2027 Southwest Education Alliance Superintendent of the Year and has received other prestigious honors, including the Aspire Award from The Innovation Project and the Charlotte Hornets Social Justice Power Forward Award. She also has earned spots on Black Business Ink’s Power 100 and the National School Public Relations Association’s 25 Superintendents to Watch lists.

Dr. Hill earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in instructional technology, both from North Carolina A&T State University. She also earned a doctorate in educational leadership from Gardner-Webb University.