Ann T. Denlinger, Ed.D.
Superintendent, Durham Public Schools
Durham, North Carolina

Dr. Ann Denlinger has risen through the ranks of education, having been a teacher, principal and Superintendent of Schools in Wilson and Durham County. Ann took over leadership of the troubled Durham Public Schools in 1997. Still reeling from the merger of city and county schools they system was noted for high drop-out rate, low SAT scores, and mediocre test scores. But Ann Denlinger believes every child can succeed and boldly stated a goal that 95 percent of third-graders would be reading at or above grade level by 2007, a goal many said couldn’t be achieved. Recent test scores show 91.3 percent at grade level. End of grade tests are highest in the system’s history, SAT scores passed the 1,000 mark for the first time, and the dropout rate is below the state average. Dr. Denlinger was the first woman to be named Superintendent of the Year by the NC Association of School Administrators. For her belief in educating our children, for her insistence on achievement, and for her outstanding leadership NC Public Power Communities and NC SPIN name Dr. Ann T. Denlinger as an NC Notable.

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Ann T. Denlinger has been Superintendent of Durham Public Schools in North Carolina since March 1997. She provides leadership for a school system of 31,000 students and 4,500 employees, with a $307 million budget.

Since Dr. Denlinger’s arrival in Durham, student achievement has increased substantially. Students have posted the highest gains in the system’s history on end-of-grade and end-of-course test scores. End-of-grade test score performance composites for grades 3 through 8 revealed that 29 of 41 schools tested turned in their highest overall scores ever for the 2003-04 school year.

SAT scores continue to show an upward trend, passing the significant 1,000 mark for the first time in 2004. More students are reading on grade level than ever before. Surveys reveal that nine in 10 of the system’s graduates plan further studies. In 2000, for the first time in the school system’s history, the dropout rate fell below the state average. Most importantly, the dropout rate has been reduced by nearly 40 percent over the last four school years.

In 2002, Dr. Denlinger established a Closing the Achievement Gap Task Force as a permanent standing committee to work toward raising achievement levels for all students. While the achievement levels of all groups of students have continued to improve, the divide between African-American students’ achievement levels and those of white and Asian students in Durham Public Schools has narrowed by one third.

With the successes being experienced in the elementary grades, Dr. Denlinger announced reform efforts for the middle and high school levels in 2004, with the establishment of improvement teams for all middle and high schools. Dr. Denlinger has also established the Choice Programs initiative, a sweeping effort that will incorporate input from the entire Durham community via a series of meetings and surveys. The goal will be to expand upon currently successful instructional programs, such as magnet and year-round schools, plus implement new programs to serve the needs of the community. These efforts will set the course for Durham Public Schools for the next decade and beyond.

Dr. Denlinger has significantly strengthened relationships with local businesses and community organizations toward garnering broad-based support for the district. She entered a Memorandum of Understanding with local government and law enforcement agencies outlining communications protocol around school safety.

Before coming to Durham, Dr. Denlinger served as Superintendent of Wilson County Schools. She previously served as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, and as a principal and teacher in the Wake County Public School System. She holds both a doctorate and a master’s degree in educational administration from Campbell University. She has served as vice-chair and chair of both the Superintendent’s Division of the North Carolina Association of School Administrators (NCASA) and the Central Carolina Educational Consortium. She is immediate past president of NCASA.

Dr. Denlinger also serves on the boards of directors of the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Durham Rotary Club. She served as Chair of the United Way of Durham 2000 Campaign, Co-Chair of the Triangle United Way 2000 Campaign, and Chair of the Durham United Way Board of Trustees. She is the Chairperson of the Triangle United Way.

In November 1999, the North Carolina Association of School Administrators selected Dr. Denlinger as the 2000 Superintendent of the Year for the state of North Carolina. She is the first woman in the history of the award to be so honored, selected by a committee of her peers. In May 2002 Dr. Denlinger received the 2002 Reading Recovery‚ Teacher Leader Award from the Boston Teacher Leader Institute for her work in promoting literacy in the early grades.

In 2003, Dr. Denlinger became the first Superintendent to receive the prestigious Durham Chamber of Commerce Civic Honor Award, given to a Durham resident who has improved the community through leadership and service.

Dr. Denlinger is married to Bob Denlinger. They have one son, Chris, who lives with his wife, Dawn, in Raleigh, North Carolina.