Mr. Harris poses with "The Incredibles" during staff appreciation week. L-R, Greta Stanley, Singer-London Stanley, Mr. Harris, Chloe Stanley, David Stanley.

Mr. Harris was assigned as Principal at Peeler Open School for the Performing Arts in July of 2011. He enjoys the assignment as he spent time as a visual/technical artist and performed in many plays in school and in Community Theater. Prior to his assignment at Peeler, Mr. Harris served at all three levels of public education, spending a total of 15 years in Guilford County Schools (GCS).  He spent three years as Principal at Murphey Traditional Academy a traditional magnet Elementary school in GCS; two years as Principal at Ferndale Middle School, an International Baccalaureate (IB) magnet in GCS, and three years as Assistant High School Principal at High Point Central, also an IB magnet school.  He also spent 5 years as a Marine Corps Junior ROTC instructor, and High School Baseball, Swimming and Cross Country Coach at High Point Central High School. He was selected as the Central Carolina Conference Coach of the Year for five years straight in Swimming and Cross Country. While Principal at Murphey Traditional Academy and at Ferndale Middle School they were awarded the 15 Most Improved Schools on three different occasions. Ferndale Middle school also received the Piedmont Triad Education Consortium Signature School Award in 2009.  His hobbies are sketching, gardening, reading and spending time with his grandchildren. Mr. Harris is a graduate of Alfred T. Mahan High School, which is located in Keflavik, Iceland.  He is also a graduate of John Wesley College, with a BA in both Business Management and Ethics.  He holds a Master’s Degree in School Administration, and an Education Specialist Degree from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. He has also completed course work for his Education Doctorate.  He is a recent graduate of the Leadership Development Program from the Center for Creative Leadership.

Mr. Harris grew up mostly in Southern California, Jacksonville North Carolina, and Knoxville Tennessee.  Prior to working for GCS he spent 23 years in the United States Marine Corps.  During this time he worked in the infantry as a Scout Sniper, and in Special Operations in Force Reconnaissance.  He also spent 10 years as an instructor, and instructor leader for various service schools as a Marksmanship Instructor, Drill Instructor, Water Safety Survival Instructor, Leadership Instructor, and Assistant Director of the Raid and Reconnaissance Schools in Coronado California where he was selected as Instructor of the Year.  He has also spent time independently on Expeditions around the world.  He was selected as the Executive Officer to Operation RALEIGH, a British sponsored expedition to Chile, South America, under the patronage of HRH Prince Charles. 

Mr. Harris’ military education includes; Drill Instructor School, Leadership Career and Advanced Courses, Sniper School, U.S. Army Ranger, Mountain Leaders Course, Special Forces (SF) Special Operations Combat Diver and SF High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) Parachutist Courses, Basic and Advanced Reconnaissance Courses, and the USN SEAL Long Range Maritime Operations Course.  His Personal Decorations consist of the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V, Combat Action Ribbon w/Gold Star, Good Conduct Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Citation, Navy Meritorious Unit Citation, Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, South West Asia Campaign Medal and Kuwait Liberation Medal. 
 

He has been married for over 32 years to Donna Louise Mulanix Harris of Pontiac, MI.  They have two children and two grandchildren. Their home is in High Point, NC.