A lifelong resident and proud product of Buncombe County Schools, Dr. Jennifer Reed has dedicated her career to educational excellence in the Western North Carolina region. After earning her undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill, Dr. Reed returned to the community she loves. She began her teaching career as a fourth-grade teacher at Hominy Valley Elementary, where she quickly demonstrated her commitment to instruction by attaining National Board Certification. Driven by a passion for leadership, she simultaneously pursued and earned both a Master's Degree in Elementary Education and her Principal Licensure from Western Carolina University (WCU). Dr. Reed's administrative career is marked by diverse experiences and increasing responsibility within the district. Her leadership journey included roles as an Assistant Principal and Instructional Coach at various schools within the county. She then served as the Principal of Fairview Elementary School from 2012 to 2017. Building on her school-level success, she served as the Director of Elementary and Intermediate Education from 2017 to 2022. During this period, she led the district's pivotal transition to an early reading curriculum based on the Science of Reading. Dr. Reed currently serves as the Associate Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for Buncombe County Schools, a role she has held since 2022. She completed her academic journey by graduating from the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership at WCU in May 2023.Dr. Reed's dedication to educational leadership has earned notable recognition. Following her completion of the 2023 NCSSA Aspiring Superintendent program, she was selected as the recipient of the prestigious Dr. Samuel Houston Leadership Award. Furthermore, in 2024, she was honored as the Asheville Chamber's Commerce Woman Executive of the Year.