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Dr. Anthony Parker, Superintendent of the Johnston County Schools since 2004,  has been named 2008 Central Carolina Superintendent of the Year by his peers in the Central Carolina Regional Education Service Alliance (RESA).

"What a pleasure it was to make the announcement," said Dr. Lawrence Walker, Executive Director and CEO of the Central Carolina RESA.  "He very easily pulls a group together and involves them in very active participation."  Dr. Parker was named during the North Carolina Association of School Administrators' annual Summer Leadership Conference in Asheville this month.

RESAs are affiliated with NCASA, the only organization in North Carolina for all central office administrators, principals, assistant principals and higher education professionals. There are approximately 7000 members including 109 public school systems, eight Regional Education Service Alliances, the Principals' Executive Program, 11 affiliate school administrator organizations, student, associate and corporate members. Dr. Parker has served as the chairman of the Central Carolina RESA, which is comprised of 15 school districts, since 2007.  Due to his leadership, has been asked to serve a second term.

{mosimage}The recognition is well-deserved, said Dr. Walker.  "He was selected because of his outstanding leadership among superintendents.  He is very popular with his colleagues."

His peers concur.  "I have known Dr. Parker for more than a dozen years. He is committed to the success of all students in the Johnston County Schools and to creating additional learning opportunities for them.  Dr. Parker has chaired our RESA this past year and provided strong leadership to the organization.  I believe that he is an excellent representative of the superintendents in the Central Carolina RESA," said Dr. Neil Pedersen, Superintendent of Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools.

Dr. Larry Price, Superintendent of the Wilson County Schools, adds: "Dr. Parker has earned the recognition of his peers in the Central Carolina Region.  He has distinguished himself as a visionary superintendent who keeps his focus on improving the educational opportunities for all students while handling the day-to-day issues of leading a rapidly growing school district in an exemplary manner.  He is a great choice to represent our region and will do well in the competition for North Carolina Superintendent of the Year."

Dr. Parker's abilities and vision are appreciated at home too, according to Kay Carroll, Chairman of the Johnston County Board of Education. "Certainly we are very proud and we congratulate Dr. Parker for that outstanding achievement.  We are very proud that people recognize his outstanding leadership abilities and what it takes to make education great in Johnston County and in North Carolina.  He helps education advance forward through the political and educational process.  We look forward to his leading us from good to great.  We are very pleased that he is leading our county," said Carroll.

NCASA's affiliate school administrator groups include the following:

-- North Carolina Principals and Assistant Principals' Association
-- North Carolina School Superintendents' Association
-- Personnel Administrators of North Carolina
-- North Carolina Association for Career & Technical Education Administrators
-- North Carolina Association of School Business Officials
-- North Carolina Council of Administrators of Special Education
-- North Carolina Professors of Educational Leadership
-- North Carolina School Public Relations Association 
-- North Carolina School Nutrition Service Association
-- North Carolina Pupil Transportation Association
-- North Carolina Technology in Education Society 

Dr. Parker will now advance to the North Carolina Superintendent of the Year program competition.