Mark Reed has only been at his new job for a little over a month and he's already making headlines. The 44-year-old veteran educator started on July 1 as the head of the prestigious Charlotte Country Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina, breaking open the history books as the first African-American to lead the school where 89 percent of students and 90 percent of employees are White. It is a first in North Carolina's independent/private school history. In the age of President Obama, there seems to be a growing number of "firsts" that are happening to African-Americans around the country this year, finally making inroads in their specific fields.

The search committee at Charlotte Country Day School contends that race never played a part in their selection process. Nevertheless, Reed's appointment ensures that the school has chosen not to ignore that a stronger commitment must be made to increasing its minority student population to reflect a more racially balanced enviornment.

Born and raised in Montana of all places, Reed left on a track scholarship to the University of Houston. He credits his immediate family for exposing him to the idea of becoming an educator.

"I have a mother and sister who taught me to have a great respect for educating," says Reed. "Once I started coaching and then teaching, it sealed the deal for me. Then I started connecting with the kids and the passion that kept me in education then keeps me doing what I do today."

After becoming the first African-American man to be hired as faculty at St. John's School in Houston, Reed spent the last 19 years rising through the ranks from coach to assistant headmaster. The decision to venture out into new territory wasn't one that came easily for him.

"St. John's is still a school that I love, but at the same time Charlotte Country Day opened up and I saw another school that had passionate parents and committed kids who are moving towards a greater goal," said Reed. "While St. John's was going through a change at the time, I made my final decision and I'm exciting about leading a community of people who care about their children and education."

Reed hopes that level of involvement continues as he meets with parents, administrators, faculty and then next month, the students. As far as being the first Black man to lead the school in a new direction, he credits those whose shoulders he stands on, saying, "first and foremost, there are plenty who have come before me and have been doing this work longer that I have who I continue to lean on as mentors."