Hickory City Schools Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Griffin announced on March 12 the appointment of Greg Keys as the district’s new Chief Technology Officer. The Hickory City Board of Education confirmed Keys’ appointment at its meeting on March 9, and he will begin his role on May 11.
The selection of a new CTO is important for Hickory City Schools as it continues to focus on academic excellence and innovative operations. Keys brings experience in education, school leadership, and instructional technology to the position.
Keys started his career as a high school English teacher at Lake Norman High School after graduating from Appalachian State University as a North Carolina Teaching Fellow. He later worked as a Blended Learning Coach, helping implement Iredell County’s first one-to-one device initiative. His leadership roles have included serving as Assistant Principal at Brawley Middle School and East Mooresville Intermediate School. For the past four years, he has been Coordinator of Instructional Technology for Rowan-Salisbury Schools, where he led district-wide device deployments and refresh cycles, contributed to artificial intelligence policy development, and guided responsible use of emerging technologies in classrooms.
Keys holds a Master’s degree in Educational Media and a School Leadership add-on license from Appalachian State University. Originally from Rochester, New York, he has lived most of his life in North Carolina and attended South Iredell High School. He lives with his wife Lindsay and their two daughters.
Dr. Griffin said, “Greg’s background as a classroom teacher, school administrator, and district technology leader gives him a well-rounded understanding of how technology directly supports student achievement. His forward-thinking approach and commitment to innovation will serve our students, staff, and families well.”
The district looks forward to the leadership Keys will bring as it maintains its commitment to empowering academic excellence.
