Asheville City Schools

Dr. Jim Causby currently serves as Interim Superintendent for Asheville City Schools. He began his tenure on June 16th, 2022. 

As interim superintendent, Causby explained his role will be to maintain the school system while the Board of Education hires its next long-term leader.  He feels it’s important to “address issues that need to be dealt with” and always strives to “make it a priority to find pressing needs and correct them while [he is] there.” 

A veteran educator with nearly 30 years of superintendent experience, Causby is a native of McDowell County that currently resides in Biltmore Lake.

He has had an extensive and successful career in North Carolina’s public education system.  He began his career as a teacher at Swain County’s Almond Elementary School and then taught and coached in Henderson County Schools. He was an assistant principal in Burlington City Schools and an elementary principal in Mooresville City Schools. He also served as a principal at the elementary school, middle school, and high school level in Greenville County Schools in South Carolina.  Ultimately, Causby served as superintendent of Swain County Schools, Polk County Schools, and Johnston County Schools.  Additionally, he has served as interim superintendent for Hickory City Schools, Madison County Schools, Johnston County Schools, and twice at Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, most recently from July to December 2020.  He has been named North Carolina’s Superintendent of the Year three times and was selected as one of 100 Outstanding Superintendents in the United States by the Executive Educator Magazine.  

Causby has also led two statewide organizations, serving as the Executive Director of the North Carolina Association of School Administrators from 2004 to 2006 and as the Executive Director of the North Carolina School Superintendents Association from 2006 to 2013. 

Among his many awards and achievements, he was named to The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which is the highest civilian recognition presented by the governor of North Carolina.  He also received the 2015 Distinguished Service Award from the American Association of School Administrators, the Outstanding Academic and Professional Achievement Alumni Award by Western Carolina University, the Distinguished Career Alumni Award from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the Razor Walker Award by the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. 

Causby is a three-time graduate of Western Carolina University, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, his Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education as well as his Master of Arts in Elementary Education.  Additionally, he received his Education Specialist Degree in School Leadership from Appalachian State University and his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  

He is married to his wife of 53 years, June, and together their family consists of three sons, three daughters-in-law and five grandchildren.  In his spare time, Causby enjoys spending time with his family and is highly involved in service ministry through his church, Hominy Baptist. 

During his time at Asheville City Schools, Causby says he’s most eager to “get to know the people who work in the system as well as the students and their families.  The system is full of outstanding employees, and I’m looking forward to working alongside them.” 

Contact the Superintendent: 

Phone: 828-350-6145

Email: james.causby@acsgmail.net