Former superintend
ent Maurice 'Mo'
Green discusses new
position with local
organization
BY TEVIN STLNSON
THE CHRON ICLE
After completing his
tenure as Superintendent of
Guilford County Schools,
Maurice "Mo" Green offi
cially assumed his role as
executive director of the Z.
Smith Reynolds
Foundation.
Based here in Winston
Salem; the Z. Smith
Reynolds Foundation
fZSR) is committed to
improving the quality of
life of all North Carolinians
by investing in communi
ty-based organizations
throughout the state that
are dedicated to building an
inclusive, sustainable and
vibrant state.
For more than 80 years,
the foundation has prpvid
ed grants for charitable
organizations throughout
the state.
Green's selection was
the result of a national
search led by ZSR Board of
Trustees following the
retirement of former exec
utive director Leslie
Winner earlier this year.
Foundation president and
member of the search com
mittee Jock Tate said the
board is confident that
Green will provide a fresh
perspective and new
approach to the work they
do across the state.
'Mo' brings with him
great knowledge of the
depth and breadth of issues
affecting our state, as well
as significant management
experience." Tate said.
During a recent sit
down with The Chronicle,
Green said be is extremely
excited about the opportu
nity to join an organization
that has such a rich history
of improving the quality of
life for residents across the
state. While sitting in his
new office, he said what
intrigued him most about
the position with ZSR was
their track record of work
ing in and for the commu
nities most in need.
"Given its legacy. Z.
Smith Reynolds has really
been North Carolina's
foundation. I am honored
to be a part of this organi
zation." Green said.
As the superintendent
of the fourth largest school
district in the state. Great
made it his mission to
include parents in the deci
sion-making process in
Guilford County. Upon
arrival in 2008. he
launched a "Listen and
Learning Tour" to get input
from parents, students,
principals and community
members. The "Mo Wants
to Know" campaign
received more than 3,000
responses from stakehold
ers within the community.
On January 27, 2009, the
responses were incorporat
ed into the county's first
ever strategic plan.
Green said he plans to
use the same kind of
approach when working
with ZSR.
"Indeed there may be
some better ideas out there
than mine," laughed Green.
"I think it's very important
to get out in the community
and get to know what the
people want."
"For me, interacting
with residents and commu
nity leaders makes the
most sense.".
Prior to joining
Guilford County Schools,
Green held several posi
tions with Charlotte
Mecklenburg Schools
(CMS). He joined the dis
trict in 2001 as its general
counsel and in 2006 he was
named chief operating offi
cer. Upon his departure, he
held the additional tide of
deputy superintendent. His
duties included running the
day-to-day operations of
the district, which boasted
?135jOOO students, nearly
18,000 employees and a
$1.17 billion budget.
Green said his experi
ences with Guilford
County and Charlotte
Mecklenburg Schools will
help him as they look to
. make decisions on where
to make investments. As
director be plans to build
on the five focus points of
the foundation already in
place, one of which is pub
lic education.
"I am very knowledge
able about the issues cur
rently impacting public
education," he continued.
"That will help me when
making decisions as execu
tive director."
"This organization's
main goal is to elevate the
dignity of all North
Carolinians through a num
ber of different ways,
including public education
and social justice," Green
noted.
Other focus points
include community eco
nomic development,
strengthening democracy,
and environment. He said,
"By focusing on those
issues and including input
from community members,
the foundation will contin
ue to evolve and grow."
This week Green will
attend his first board of
trustees meeting as execu
tive director. Green will
work with the board to
make decisions on where
the foundation should
make investments. The Z.
Smith Reynolds
Foundation will host a wel
come reception this
evening May 19, at the new
Kimpton Cardinal Hotel
located downtown to intro
duce Green to the commu
nity.
Green said he has
already begun to build rela
tionships with members of
the Winston-Salem com
munity and is eager to get
to work.
Tve started to have
some conversations and
doing some listening.
Winston-Salem seems like
a place that seems to be
making a positive transi
tion in a number of differ
ent ways."