Chris Bennett

Chris Bennett, EdD, is the executive director of middle schools and accountability for Cleveland County Schools in North Carolina. In this role, he provides district-level leadership focused on middle grades achievement and school performance. He was recognized by the North Carolina Association for Middle Level Education with the 2026 Dr. Kenneth McEwin Award, which honors outstanding contributions to middle level education in the state.

Bennett is the author of The Middle School Playbook: High-Impact Leadership Strategies to Ensure Peak Performance (A Practical Guide to Leading Middle Schools Well), a work that draws on his experience in middle school leadership and accountability to provide practical strategies for improving student outcomes and school effectiveness.