Charles Foust is an executive leadership coach and former superintendent with more than 20 years of experience in public education. He has built a career leading large school systems and delivering measurable academic results.
His work has taken him across several states, supporting districts in both growth and turnaround efforts.
Foust began his career in the classroom before taking over as principal. As a principal, he led both high-performing and underperforming schools. At Fondren Middle School in Houston ISD, he helped transform the campus into an accredited program, earning state honors and securing admission to the International Baccalaureate within three years.
He later took on leadership positions in the district, including at Houston ISD and Union County Public Schools. These roles gave him experience leading large teams, improving school performance, and coaching leaders across multiple campuses.
Foust subsequently served as superintendent of both the Kansas City Kansas Public Schools and the New Hanover County Schools in North Carolina. In these roles, he managed systems for more than 24,000 students and managed budgets of up to $600 million. His leadership helped achieve double-digit academic gains and improve districtwide results.
Today Foust works as an executive leadership coach. His focus is on leadership development and systems strengthening. His approach focuses on clarity, accountability and consistent execution, positioning him as a respected voice in educational leadership.
An Interview with Charles Foust: Leading Change in Education
Q: Can you take us back to the beginning of your career?
I started in the classroom. This experience shaped everything for me. It gave me a clear view of what students and teachers actually experience every day. From then on, I moved into school management and quickly realized that systems are just as important as individual performance.
Q: What was your first big leadership breakthrough?
One of the key moments was at Fondren Middle School in Houston ISD. It was a turning point. We focused on structure, expectations and consistency. In the first year we achieved strong results and received state awards. Over time, we became an authorized International Baccalaureate school.
Q: You have led several large districts. What stands out about this experience?
Clarity stands out. When I led Kansas City Kansas Public Schools, we focused on a small number of high-impact priorities. Several schools achieved double-digit growth within a year. This helped move the district away from being among the lowest performing in the state.
Q: What have you accomplished at New Hanover County Schools?
We focused on alignment. We secured funding to increase teacher salaries, which made the district more competitive. We also won a multi-million dollar literacy grant. This meant we were able to deploy literacy coaches in every primary school. Academic performance rose from 50 percent to over 61 percent and most schools met or exceeded their growth goals.
Q: How do you define leadership in education?
Leadership is about improving the lives of individuals while transforming systems. You can’t separate the two. If the system is weak, the results will always be limited.
Q: What challenges do education leaders face today?
There is a lot of pressure and not always enough support. Leaders are expected to deliver results quickly. At the same time, they manage people, resources and expectations. Without the right structure, it will be difficult to maintain progress.
Q: How do you approach leadership development?
I focus on coaching and consistency. I meet regularly with managers and help them make decisions. It’s not about giving answers. It’s about building their ability to lead effectively over time.
Q: What lessons have stuck with you throughout your career?
Concentrate on focus. Don’t try to fix everything at once. When leaders remain disciplined and aligned, results follow.
Q: What are you focusing on now?
I work as an executive leadership coach. I support schools, district leaders and education authorities to improve performance and governance. I bring real experience to these conversations that helps leaders connect strategy with execution.
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring leaders?
Stay committed to learning. Leadership is not a one-time achievement. It is something you build every day through experience, reflection and action.
