CCSD’s Simmons selected as “What Women Bring” honoree

Charleston County School District (CCSD)’s Chief Academic Officer, Michelle Simmons, was recently named the 2024 Education Honoree by the YWCA of Greater Charleston. The YWCA’s What Women Bring is an annual event that honors outstanding women who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and dedication in their respective fields.

What Women Bring launched in 2018 at the Charleston Area Convention Center. The inaugural luncheon event featured a panel of professional women representing ten different industries having candid conversations about contributions to their professions, past experiences, strengths, challenges, and future opportunities for growth in their workplace and communities. Emceed by WCBD News 2 anchor Octavia Mitchell and WCSC Live 5 News anchor Ann McGill, this year’s event on September 25, 2024, featured a dynamic group of panelists, including Simmons.

With a career in education spanning over 26 years, Simmons has been instrumental in delivering educational opportunities and providing vital support to students and families in Charleston County. She has served in various capacities throughout all levels of the system including as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, director, executive director, associate superintendent, and now chief academic officer (CAO). In her current role as CAO, Simmons oversees a team responsible for curriculum implementation, special education services, and comprehensive student support, including social work and mental health provisions.