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Suffolk Public Schools will be losing one of its two assistant superintendents, as Dr. LaToya Harrison has accepted a position in Chesapeake, according to a news release from Chesapeake Public Schools.

The School Board of Chesapeake Public Schools approved the recommendation of its superintendent, Dr. Jared Cotton, to appoint Harrison as the new chief academic officer for the district. Harrison will assume her new role on July 1.

“I am excited to welcome Dr. Harrison to the CPS family,” Cotton stated in a press release. “She comes to us with a remarkable degree of experience as an accomplished educational leader. Her passion for education and proven track-record of success made her a natural choice. I am confident that she will be an excellent addition to the team and will be a great match for our schools and community.”

Harrison has served as a teacher and principal in Washington, D.C., an executive director for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and founder of SOAR Education, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provided academic and social support to students from disadvantaged communities, the press release stated.

In her current position, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning for Suffolk Public Schools, Harrison oversees all areas of curriculum, instruction, assessment, professional development, Career and Technical Education, and federal programs for the district’s 19 schools and two centers.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the College of William and Mary, a Master of Education degree from Regent University, and both a Master of Education degree in Educational Policy and Management and a Doctor of Education degree from Harvard University.

“As educators, I believe we must do whatever it takes to help children succeed,” Harrison said. “Therefore, I am truly honored and excited to join the Chesapeake Public Schools team as Chief Academic Officer. I look forward to partnering with the teachers and leaders in CPS in inspiring, engaging and empowering students to achieve their full potential.”

Harrison resides in Suffolk with her husband, Dwain, and daughter, Ava Grace. She is a member of Restore Church in Portsmouth.