'Mo' out to do more: Green leaves promising legal career to make Gorman's vision real.

Byline: Ann Doss Helms

Jul. 7--From the day he graduated from Duke University's law school, Maurice "Mo" Green was a rising legal star. A federal judge he worked for thought he could be president. Partners in the Charlotte law firm that hired him marveled at his talents. Green envisioned a traditional career: Make his mark in the courtroom, go into politics, maybe become a judge someday. So why, at 39, has he plunged off the lawyer track to make sure Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' buses run, its budgets make sense and its schools get built? It's partly because of his determination to make sure all children get what he wants for his own two: "Not just a sound basic education but an excellent education." And it's partly because of the high standards he sets for himself -- and is about to set for CMS's 17,000 employees. "Whatever the expectations have been, mine will be higher" says the school system's new chief operating officer. "I expect everyone else's to rise with me." Green takes his place with Superintendent Peter Gorman, trying to win back a community that has soured on its public schools. As Gorman's first hire, Green has been at his side in key public…