Francine Mitchell selected to help lead CCSD elementary schools
June 10, 2024
Charleston County School District (CCSD) is delighted to announce Francine Mitchell as an Executive Director of the Elementary Learning Community. Mitchell has served as an interim Executive Director of the Elementary Learning Community since 2022.
Throughout her career, Mitchell, an award-winning CCSD teacher and administrator, has held various positions in education from the classroom to district administration in a variety of domestic and international settings. Mitchell’s first role as a school-based leader was as an assistant principal at Charles Pinckney Elementary School in 2004 where she led over 900 students and 70 staff members daily.
Francine Mitchell Executive Director of the Elementary Learning Community
A highly organized and effective leader, Mitchell was selected to become principal at James B. Edwards Elementary School (JBE) in 2009. While at JBE, Mitchell focused her talents on curriculum development, child growth and development, instructional strategies, and classroom management. She left JBE in 2015 to relocate to Illinois where she served as a lead faculty member for Atlantic Research Partners, a company focused on research-based teacher professional development and training on pedagogical best practices directly linked to student academic achievement.
In 2016, Mitchell relocated back to South Carolina where she rejoined the district as a Director of Employee Relations. In this capacity, Mitchell worked with district employees at all levels of the organization to resolve conflicts, mentor and advise as needed, and help develop employee improvement plans for six years before her appointment to serve as interim Executive Director of Elementary Learning in 2022.
“Mrs. Mitchell has served in this position since September of 2022 and currently serves sixteen of our schools within a variety of constituent districts,” said Dr. Jennifer Swearingen, Associate Superintendent of the Elementary Learning Community. “She has participated in Restorative Practice efforts within the schools that she serves, partners with school leaders in classroom walkthroughs and provides feedback, and has a deep understanding of the challenges within our schools that we work to overcome to ensure student success. Mrs. Mitchell has a calm spirit, and she is a true asset to our learning community.”
Mitchell holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Ohio State and a Master of Art in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan. She has been the recipient of several leadership awards throughout her career including the 2014-2015 Elementary Learning Community’s Star Principal Award and the Palmetto Gold Award every year during her tenure at James B. Edwards. She also holds early childhood, elementary, and principal certifications.
For more information, contact the Office of Communications at (843) 937-6303.
About the Charleston County School District
Charleston County School District (CCSD) is a nationally accredited school district committed to providing equitable and quality educational opportunities for all its students. CCSD is the second-largest school system in South Carolina and represents a unique blend of urban, suburban, and rural schools spanning 1,300 square miles along the coast. CCSD serves approximately 50,000 students in 88 schools and specialized programs. CCSD offers a diverse portfolio of educational options and specialized programs delivered to the students of CCSD through neighborhood, magnet, IB (international baccalaureate), Montessori, and charter schools and programs. Rich educational opportunities for students include programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); music and other creative and performing arts; career and technical preparation programs; military; dual credit; and many more.
