School director returns home for the role he was meant to have

Dr. James Davis was not looking for a job. He was looking for a fit.

The Morganton native had no complaints about his nearly 25 years in education. From classroom teacher to administrator to educational consultant, he relished being a positive influence on students and educators alike, a directional sign to keep them heading in the right direction. 

As a consultant for the Institute for Excellence in Education, he coached principals around the state. He helped them incorporate strategies to up-level their own skills and improve student achievement and classroom instruction and management.

Davis discovered something was missing, however. 

“I missed being a true part of a school,” he said. Going into - and out of - schools did not give him the satisfaction of being in the trenches with colleagues to collectively raise performance, a top-to-bottom immersion not possible as a short-term consultant.

“Authentically, my heart is full,” Davis said of being named school director at New Dimensions Public Charter School. His first day on the job was April 19.

Big shoes to fill

The job at the charter school opened when long-time Burke County educator Dr. David Burleson retired in December 2022. The living legend spent nearly 40 years in education, including nine years as superintendent of Burke County Public Schools. He was the school director at New Dimensions for about three years.

“It’s huge shoes to fill and I’m honored to follow him,” Davis said. “It is full circle. Dr. Burleson was my principal when I was at Freedom High School.” Davis attended Salem and Mull elementary schools, Liberty Middle School, and Freedom. 

Davis credits Burleson and his middle school social studies teacher Kim Ritchie Baker with providing the example and educational foundation he has relied on as a teacher and administrator. 

“She exemplified authentic, meaningful relationships. She took an interest in me. And I knew I could go to her if I needed something - a ride home or lunch money. This is something I haven’t thought about in a long time. …  The class was studying the barter system.” He paused to exhale as tears welled up in his eyes. “She asked the class to bring something in to barter with. I grew up very poor, and I didn’t have anything to bring in to barter. She quietly took me to the side, showed me a box, and told me to pick something out that I could use.”

As he told the story, 45-year-old Davis was once again that little boy and so grateful not to be embarrassed in front of his classmates. To this day, Baker remains a sounding board with the two often sharing texts. Burleson has also been accessible, answering questions and providing background information on the school. 

On the same page

During his interview with the school’s board of directors, he was asked about his priorities. His No. 1 priority, he told them, is safety, followed by building meaningful relationships and elevating student achievement. 

One of the board members chuckled and then revealed that the board had the exact priorities, in that same order.

“From the very beginning, everything seemed right,” he said. Once on the job, he and school principal Misty Dillingham clicked as if they had been working together for years. “God’s good and He gets all the credit.” 

He is also grateful for the timing of this new assignment. Coming in April provides him with the opportunity to observe and learn. This summer, he will digest and consider everything before making any tweaks in the 2023-24 school year. He notes that Burleson left a school that is running smoothly, a big departure from past schools.

The “bottom 5” is typically where he worked. That’s the bottom 5%, educationally, in the state. Davis was the changemaker, the turn-around guy that was hired to pull a school up. He would stay for a few years and then move on to the next school where his expertise was needed. Most of his teaching and administration experience was in the greater Charlotte area, including Rowan and Cabarrus counties. 

New Dimensions is a “B” school, designated by the annual N.C. School Report Card. The next stop is becoming an “A” school. 

“We’ll get there,” he assured.

When he is not at school, Davis enjoys spending time with his three daughters, ages 14, 16, and 20. He also makes a killer chicken parmesan. Watching Netflix is a favorite way to decompress.

When asked for his favorite movies, he quickly said, “'Lean on Me' with Morgan Freeman is my all-time favorite movie.” He then mentioned, “Remember the Titans.” Even his favorite movies are centered around schools. He laughed when that was brought to his attention.

Despite a multitude of controversies and political debates about education in this country, Davis keeps his eyes on his mission. He makes a point of staying above the fray. 

“I choose my attitude,” he said. “There are tons of good and beauty in the world, and that’s where I focus.”