Dr. Jan Irons Harris is a lifelong educator whose mission is to love God, love others and cultivate good. She is married to her college sweetheart, Dennis Wholey Harris. Jan enjoys being “Aunt Jan” to two nephews and five nieces.
Jan earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in math/education from the University of North Alabama, and the University of South Carolina, respectively. She received her doctorate in school administration from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University where she received the Wheeler Prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement in Doctoral Studies. Jan served as a math teacher, assistant principal, middle school and high school principal, and superintendent.
After retirement, she worked in a part-time/consulting capacity for the Association of Alabama School Boards, the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools, and she was Director of Principally Speaking Network for The Schools Foundation. Then, after “failing retirement” she served as superintendent of Dade County Schools in Trenton, Georgia for almost five years. Jan served as superintendent of Cullman City Schools in Cullman, Alabama and Dade County for a total of 14 years. In 2020, she and the Dade County Board Members
received the Governance Team of the Year Award by the Georgia School Boards Association.
Jan is honored to have received the Dade County Board of Education Superintendent of Excellence Award, Dade County Chamber Educator of the Year, Dade County Optimist Club Partners in Education Award, Alabama PTA High School Principal of the Year, University of North AL Alumnus of the Year, AL District 8 Superintendent of the Year, eschool news Tech- Savvy Superintendent, The Cullman Times Distinguished Citizen of the Year, Outstanding Educator by the North-Central Alabama Girl Scouts, and Boy Scouts Heart of An Eagle Award. Mayor Max Townson named Jan an Honorary Cullman “Colonel”, and Childhaven Children’s Home presented the Dot Causey Distinguished Service Award to Jan and her husband, Wholey.
Jan and her husband have enjoyed facilitating numerous Dave Ramsey financial literacy classes at their church.
Jan is an active member of her church and community having served as a youth/adult Sunday School Teacher as well as serving on numerous boards and committees such as the Chamber Board, United Way Board, Optimist Board and Junior League. She is a graduate of Leadership Alabama and Leadership Greater Huntsville Class 12. She served on the Huntsville Library Board and currently serves as president of the Florence Lauderdale Public
Library Friends Board.
She is the author of Leadership, According to Solomon (2018, co-published by Rowman and Littlefield and the American Association of School Administrators), and The Principal’s Office
(2008, Rowman and Littlefield).
Jan earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in math/education from the University of North Alabama, and the University of South Carolina, respectively. She received her doctorate in school administration from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University where she received the Wheeler Prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement in Doctoral Studies. Jan served as a math teacher, assistant principal, middle school and high school principal, and superintendent.
After retirement, she worked in a part-time/consulting capacity for the Association of Alabama School Boards, the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools, and she was Director of Principally Speaking Network for The Schools Foundation. Then, after “failing retirement” she served as superintendent of Dade County Schools in Trenton, Georgia for almost five years. Jan served as superintendent of Cullman City Schools in Cullman, Alabama and Dade County for a total of 14 years. In 2020, she and the Dade County Board Members
received the Governance Team of the Year Award by the Georgia School Boards Association.
Jan is honored to have received the Dade County Board of Education Superintendent of Excellence Award, Dade County Chamber Educator of the Year, Dade County Optimist Club Partners in Education Award, Alabama PTA High School Principal of the Year, University of North AL Alumnus of the Year, AL District 8 Superintendent of the Year, eschool news Tech- Savvy Superintendent, The Cullman Times Distinguished Citizen of the Year, Outstanding Educator by the North-Central Alabama Girl Scouts, and Boy Scouts Heart of An Eagle Award. Mayor Max Townson named Jan an Honorary Cullman “Colonel”, and Childhaven Children’s Home presented the Dot Causey Distinguished Service Award to Jan and her husband, Wholey.
Jan and her husband have enjoyed facilitating numerous Dave Ramsey financial literacy classes at their church.
Jan is an active member of her church and community having served as a youth/adult Sunday School Teacher as well as serving on numerous boards and committees such as the Chamber Board, United Way Board, Optimist Board and Junior League. She is a graduate of Leadership Alabama and Leadership Greater Huntsville Class 12. She served on the Huntsville Library Board and currently serves as president of the Florence Lauderdale Public
Library Friends Board.
She is the author of Leadership, According to Solomon (2018, co-published by Rowman and Littlefield and the American Association of School Administrators), and The Principal’s Office
(2008, Rowman and Littlefield).
Jan and Wholey are shown above at "Hollywood Night" at the Dade County Chamber Annual Banquet on March 17, 2018.
