DeKalb County school district abruptly fires leader

DeKalb County school board members voted 4-1 in a virtual meeting on April 27, 2022 to fire Cheryl Watson-Harris immediately, after less than two years on the job in the 93,000-student district.

Jasmine Robinson / WABE

Board members abruptly fired the leader of Georgia’s third-largest school system Tuesday, creating further questions about the district’s direction.

DeKalb County school board members voted 4-1 in a virtual meeting to fire Cheryl Watson-Harris immediately, after less than two years on the job in the 93,000-student district.

Watson-Harris was DeKalb County’s sixth superintendent in a decade, having worked as first deputy chancellor in New York City’s sprawling school system before coming to Georgia.