Former CMS Superintendent Heath Morrison takes job in private sector

Former Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Heath Morrison has taken a job in the private sector, becoming a senior vice president for government relations at McGraw-Hill Education, the company announced.

In the role, Morrison will represent the company – best known for textbook publishing – in dealings with federal and state lawmakers. He’ll also advise senior leaders on policy issues.

Morrison came to Charlotte in 2012 as the reigning national superintendent of the year. He left CMS abruptly in November after the district’s general counsel investigated claims that he bullied staff members and misled the board about a building project.

In its announcement, McGraw-Hill cited Morrison’s track record in increasing the graduation rate and test scores in CMS and in his previous superintendent position in Washoe County, Nevada. It did not mention the terms of his departure from Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

Peter Cohen, group president of U.S. education for the company, said in a statement that Morrison’s hiring reflects the importance of supporting policies “which improve student achievement.” He describes Morrison as a “leader who has personally carried this mission for multiple districts and will deepen our ability to drive further improvements in education.”

The career change is similar to that of Morrison’s predecessor, Peter Gorman, who left CMS in 2011 to take a job with the nascent News Corp. education division.

“I’m thrilled to join McGraw-Hill Education at such an important time for both the company and the industry,” Morrison said in a statement. “We want to be a strong voice in government affairs to improve the lives of students of all ages.”

The company is based in New York, but it is unclear where Morrison will be based. He has said he would stay in Charlotte through the end of the school year because he has children in the school district.

This story was originally published February 3, 2015 at 5:16 PM with the headline "Former CMS Superintendent Heath Morrison takes job in private sector."