By Jordan Meadows
Staff Writer
In a unanimous decision, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) Board of Education has appointed Dr. Rodney N. Trice as the district’s next superintendent.
Trice, who currently serves as Deputy Superintendent for Teaching & Learning, Systemic Equity, and Engagement, will officially take the helm on July 1. He is the third Black person to be named superintendent in the history of CHCCS.
“This community has shaped my children. It’s shaped the careers of my wife and I. So I view the superintendency as a way to continue giving back to the community I’ve proudly called home for nearly two decades.” said Trice, who has lived in Chapel Hill for nearly 18 years.
Trice succeeds Dr. Nyah D. Hamlett, who led the district since 2021. Trice brings more than 27 years of experience in education, ranging from classroom science teacher to state-level policy advisor.
His career began in Detroit and includes significant leadership roles in both Orange County Schools and the Wake County Public School System, where he served as Assistant Superintendent for Equity Affairs. He returned to CHCCS in 2021 as Chief Equity and Engagement Officer and was promoted the following year.
Trice has also earned numerous accolades for his leadership.
, including the 2024 Dr. Frances Jones Trailblazer Award from the North Carolina Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the Dr. Samuel Houston Jr. Leadership Award from the North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association. He was recognized in 2020 with the Distinguished Leadership Alumni Award from the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Education.
A proud Morehouse College graduate, Trice holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of Detroit Mercy and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Trice is stepping into the role at a time when the district faces significant challenges, including declining enrollment, budget constraints, and community tensions—most recently highlighted by a student walkout at Carrboro High School.
Despite the obstacles, Trice expressed confidence and a commitment to collaboration, saying he plans to lead with an “open door” and a focus on community partnership. He credits his passion for education to his parents, both lifelong teachers, and thanked his wife, Kenya, and their two daughters—one of whom is a current high school student in the district—for their support.