Hickory City Schools names Greg Keys chief technology officer

Keys brings extensive experience in education, school leadership and instructional technology to Hickory City Schools. A graduate of Appalachian State University and a North Carolina Teaching Fellow, he began his career as a high school English teacher at Lake Norman High School. He later served as a blended learning coach, where he helped implement Iredell County’s first one-to-one device initiative.

His leadership experience includes serving as assistant principal at Brawley Middle School and East Mooresville Intermediate School. Most recently, Keys has served for the past four years as coordinator of instructional technology for Rowan-Salisbury Schools. In that role, he helped lead multiple districtwide device deployments and refresh cycles, played an instrumental role in developing artificial intelligence policies and guided the effective and responsible use of emerging technologies in classrooms across the district.

Keys holds a master’s degree in educational media and a school leadership add-on license, both from Appalachian State University.

Dr. Griffin expressed confidence in Keys’ leadership and vision. “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.”

Originally born in Rochester, New York, Keys has lived in North Carolina for the majority of his life, including the Lake Norman area where he attended South Iredell High School. He and his wife, Lindsay, are the proud parents of two daughters — Myla, age 12, and Laine, whom they recently welcomed into their family.