David Stegall, Ph.D., a North Carolina resident, most recently served as Chief of System Innovation at the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). A seasoned education leader with over 28 years of experience, David has held senior roles in North Carolina and internationally, and he will reside in the Wilmington area.
Prior to DoDEA, he was Deputy State Superintendent of Innovation and Chief Academic Officer at the NC Department of Public Instruction, where he supported 1.6 million students across 115 school districts. He also served as Vice President for Global Education at GEMS Education, the world’s largest K-12 school operator, overseeing schools across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia.
David spent 11 years at Newton-Conover City Schools, including 5.5 years as superintendent. Under his leadership, the district transformed from a low-performing system into one where 100% of schools met or exceeded state growth targets. He led the creation of a national award-winning STEM school, a Leader in Me school, a dual-language school, and a state-recognized personalized learning model. The district ranked among the top five in North Carolina for graduation rates, exceeding 95% for five consecutive years.
His leadership has been recognized statewide and nationally. He was named NW NC Superintendent of the Year in 2017, a national Superintendent to Watch in 2016, NC’s Outstanding Young Educator in 2012, and received the Champion for Children Award in 2021 from the NC Association of School Administrators.
David brings a strong commitment to educational innovation, equity, and student-centered success.