DPI LEADERSHIP TEAM

DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT AND ASSOCIATES

J.B. Buxton, Deputy Superintendent Department of Public Instruction
919.807.3440

Deputy State Superintendent J.B. Buxton's career has included a strong emphasis on education policy at the state and federal levels. Prior to coming to the NCDPI, Buxton served as the Senior Education Advisor to Gov. Michael Easley. In that position, he advised the Governor on education issues related to pre-K-12 public schools, community colleges, and the public and private colleges and universities. Prior to joining Gov. Easley's staff, Buxton served as the legislative director for the North Carolina State Board of Education. He also served as an education policy advisor in the White House under President Bill Clinton, as the director of Policy and Research for the Public School Forum of North Carolina, and with the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program. Buxton began his career as a high school English teacher and coach.

Rebecca Garland, Chief Academic Officer
919.807.3305

Rebecca Garland is the Chief Academic Officer for the NCDPI. Before assuming this position, she served as the executive director for the North Carolina State Board of Education. In her 30-plus years in education, she has served as a teacher with Harnett County Public Schools, a consultant for the NCDPI in content and gifted education, a director of Middle Schools/Arts/and Gifted Education for Alamance-Burlington Schools, and an associate superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for Orange County Schools. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of North Carolina – Greensboro, a Master's degree in Education from Campbell University, and a Doctorate in Education Leadership from North Carolina State University.

Philip Price, Associate Superintendent/Chief Financial Officer
919.807.3600

Philip Price rejoined the NCDPI in November 2002 as Associate State Superintendent and Chief Financial Officer. Price originally joined the Department in 1978 after graduating with degrees in Accounting and Economics from North Carolina State University. He worked in various capacities within the accounting operations of the NCDPI until December 1999. From December 1999 until he returned to the Department in late 2002, Price worked with the Fiscal Research staff of the North Carolina General Assembly where he continued to concentrate on public schools.

Peter Asmar, Associate State Superintendent/Chief Information Officer
919.807.3202

Associate State Superintendent and Chief Information Officer Peter Asmar came to the NCDPI in 2006 after a 25-year career in the private sector where he served several Fortune 100 companies in a variety of capacities encompassing technology and information services and financial and resource management. Asmar has a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Brooklyn College of the City University and a Master's degree in Business Administration in Finance from New York Institute of Technology. Asmar leads the Technology Services area for the Department, which includes NC WISE and SIMS, instructional technology, student information and accountability systems and the IT Program Management Office.

DIRECTORS

Office of the Deputy State Superintendent's Office

Vanessa Jeter, Director, Communication and Information Services
Jack Stone, Director, Human Resources
Adam Levinson, Director, Policy and Strategic Planning
John Pruette, Executive Director, North Carolina Office of School Readiness
Vacant, Director, Learn and Earn

Academic Services and Instructional Support

Carolyn Guthrie, Acting Director, Early/Elementary School Council
Elissa Brown, Director, Middle/High School Council
Rob Hines, LEA/Central Office Council
Angela Quick, Associate State Superintendent/Deputy Chief Academic Officer
Lou Fabrizio, Director, Accountability Policy and Communications
Gary Williamson, Director, Accountability Operations
Rebecca Payne, Director, Career and Technical Education
Mary Watson, Director, Exceptional Children
Cindy Williamson, Director, K-12 Curriculum, Instruction and Technology
Pat Ashley, Director, District and School Transformation
Charlotte Hughes, Interim Director, Program Monitoring and Support
Jesse Dingle, Director Talent Management and Development

Financial and Business Services

Becky McConkey, Director, Financial Services
Paul LeSieur, Director, School Business
Ben Matthews, Director, School Support
Jack Moyer, Director, Office of Charter Schools

Technology and Information Services

Mike Veckenstedt, Chief Technology Officer/Deputy CIO
Annette Murphy, TS Business/ Enterprise Program Manager, Business Support Services/PMO
John Wetsch, Program Director, NC WISE Program Management