Dr. Cedrick Gray grew up in the Parkway Village neighborhood of Memphis. He graduated from Wooddale High School in 1989. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Memphis. He earned his educational specialist and doctorate degrees from Union University in Jackson, TN.
He is formerly the Principal of Craigmont Middle School where he is credited for its successful turnaround in culture and academic achievement by leading the middle school off the Priority School designation. During his tenure at Craigmont Middle, he served as Mentor Principal for New Leaders for New Schools and as a result was nominated for Principal of the Year in his second year as a school principal. Following two successful years in the school building, he then led the Professional Development efforts for the school district’s 400 principals and assistant principals in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development as lead principal, facilitating the Turnaround Specialist leadership curriculum. Additionally, Dr. Gray had the privilege of being appointed as principal of Lester PreK-8 School in the Binghampton Community of Memphis. During his tenure at Lester, the school enjoyed the success of a complete turnaround in climate and culture and was acclaimed for achieving double-digit TVAAS gains in 5th and 8th language arts (writing).
In the summer of 2010, Dr. Gray was appointed Superintendent of Schools for Fayette County located in Southwest Tennessee where he was touted as an agent of educational reform. Under his leadership, The Tennessee Department of Education recognized Fayette County Schools as a 2011-2012 Exemplary School District. Additionally, the governor designated one of the schools as Blue Ribbon School for achievement in reading.
Dr. Cedrick Gray is also formerly the superintendent of the Jackson MS Public School District. He was appointed superintendent by the Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees in July of 2012. Dr. Gray has been acclaimed as an innovator, motivator, risk taker, outside-of-the-box thinker, and true educational visionary. He is widely praised for leadership and guidance that have revived the district and given it a new focus. He’s known for an innovative and effective strategic direction process: "Wearing WIGs (Wildly Important Goals), having FITs (Focused Instructional Teams), and saying ABCs (Attendance, Behavior, Coursework)," which applies a research-based focus to school improvement and student achievement. Since being appointed superintendent by the Jackson Public Schools Board of Trustees in 2012, Dr. Gray raised the graduation rate 8% in four years, and increased proficiency on the third-grade assessment by leading third graders to an unprecedented 91% first time passage rate. Under his leadership, the district’s three-year academic plan reduced the number of schools labeled “F” by the state accountability rating system from 17 to 2 in two years. His professional achievements include the following:
Superintendent of the Year, National Association of School Superintendents, 2016
Superintendent of the Year, National Alliance of Black School Educators, 2015
Educator of the Year, Young Gifted and Empowered Awards, Savvy Life Magazine, 2016
Dr. Gray's career has been guided by his vision to lead others to see the leader in themselves. He previously served as the Executive Director of Principal Supervisors for New Leaders – Southeast Region where he trained and coached school district leaders in instructional leadership.
Dr. Gray served as Director of Education for Shelby County Government where he advised Mayor Lee Harris on policy and reform efforts related to education in Shelby County. He has led several successfully policy initiatives including the County’s first ever joint ordinance with the City of Memphis to provide universal, needs-based Pre-K, established the County’s first ever virtual learning academy for students of County employees, and created a vocational-education program for high school students.
Dr. Gray and his wife, Karen, are the proud parents of their daughter, Peyton.