Union County Public School's Houlihan named Regional Superintendent of the Year
MONROE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The leader of Union County Public Schools was named the Regional Superintendent of the Year.
North Carolina's Southwest Education Alliance (Region 6), which covers much of the Charlotte metro, selected Dr. Andrew G. Houlihan for the 2026 honors. He also was named Regional Superintendent of the Year in 2025 and 2022.
Houlihan will now represent the 11-district southwest region in the state-level competition and compete for the A. Craig Phillips State Superintendent of the Year award. The award was voted on by superintendents from the represented districts.
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'All of my colleagues are exceptional leaders, and I want to thank them for trusting me to represent our region as superintendent of the year,' Houlihan said in a statement. 'It is an honor to work with the best teachers, administrators and support staff in the state. I also want to thank our Board of Education for their ongoing support of our students and employees.'
In his ninth year as superintendent of UCPS, the district says Houlihan has led efforts to increase academic achievement, expand educational opportunities for students, strengthen business and community partnerships and enhance student support services across the district.
'Dr. Houlihan is an outstanding superintendent and is very deserving of this recognition,' said Union County Board of Education Chairman Rev. Jimmy H. Bention. 'His vision for our school district has helped us to become stronger academically. Dr. Houlihan is an innovative and bold leader, and I am happy that he is being commended for his hard work, leadership and commitment to education.'
Houlihan has worked in education for more than 26 years and served as UCPS superintendent since 2016.
In 2024, UCPS ranked No. 2 in the state on overall proficiency at 69.5 percent. The North Carolina overall proficiency rate is 54.2 percent. And at 93.3%, UCPS has the highest graduation rate among the 12 largest districts in North Carolina.
The district received the 2024 Employer of Choice Award from the Union County Chamber.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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