Board of Trustees appoints Daniel Prentice as Chief of Staff to advance district’s strategic priorities

Charleston County native and CCSD graduate brings extensive experience in public finance, local government, strategic planning, and community partnerships to new leadership role

The Charleston County School District (CCSD) Board of Trustees voted to authorize Superintendent Anita Huggins to negotiate a contract with Daniel Prentice to serve as Chief of Staff, an expanded leadership role focused on advancing the district’s strategic priorities in student achievement, organizational excellence, transparency, and strong community partnerships.

Prentice currently serves as CCSD’s Chief Financial Officer, where he has revolutionized CCSD’s financial practice by aligning the district’s financial and operational resources with its academic priorities. In his new role, Prentice will work closely with Superintendent Huggins, the Board of Trustees, district leadership, and community partners to help coordinate and advance the Superintendent’s strategic work across the organization.

Daniel Prentice

“Daniel has a unique skill set and a proven ability to see the vision for CCSD and understand what it takes to move that vision forward,” said Superintendent Anita Huggins. “He knows our organization, understands our priorities, and has built strong relationships throughout the Lowcountry with community partners and local governments. Most importantly, Daniel knows how to bring people together, navigate complex work, and turn our goals into action. I value his leadership and perspective, and I know he will be an important partner as we continue advancing the strategic work of our district.”

As CFO, Prentice oversaw the financial operations of South Carolina’s second-largest school district, including budgeting, accounting, procurement, risk management, financial reporting, debt administration, and long-range financial planning. He advised the Superintendent and Board on fiscal policy, capital investment, compensation, and enterprise risk, and a districtwide budget exceeding $1.7 billion.

During his tenure, Prentice has strengthened CCSD’s long-range financial planning and public transparency while supporting major investments in academic achievement, employee compensation, school safety, technology, and facilities. His work has included launching a comprehensive financial transparency initiative, advancing a weighted school funding model that directs additional resources based on student needs, and developing an academic return-on-investment approach to better connect spending decisions with outcomes for students.

“Daniel’s leadership has extended well beyond the traditional responsibilities of a Chief Financial Officer,” said Pamela McKinney, Chair of the CCSD Board of Trustees. “He has built strong relationships with the Board, district leadership, government, and community partners, and he approaches complex challenges with a focus on collaboration, accountability, and solutions. The Board looks forward to his continued leadership in this expanded role.”

Before joining CCSD, Prentice served as Deputy County Administrator and Chief Financial Officer for Dorchester County, where he oversaw approximately 150 employees across eight departments and offices and helped lead financial policy, strategic planning, capital projects, information technology, facilities, procurement, and other major governmental operations.

Throughout his career, Prentice has also developed partnerships across government, business, and community organizations. His board and professional service have included the Government Finance Officers Association’s CPFO Council and Budget Committee, the South Carolina Tourism Expenditure Review Committee, and the Charleston Police Fund Advisory Board.

For Prentice, the new role is also personal. A graduate of Charleston County schools, he has deep roots in the community he now helps serve.

“CCSD helped shape who I am, and it is an incredible honor to have the opportunity to give back to the school district and community that invested in me,” said Prentice. “I am grateful to the Board and Superintendent Huggins for their confidence and for the opportunity to serve CCSD in this new role. I care deeply about this district and this community, and I believe strongly in the direction we are headed. I look forward to working alongside our team and our partners to build on the progress we have made and, most importantly, continue creating greater opportunities for our students.”

As Chief of Staff, Prentice will help provide executive-level coordination of major district priorities, support collaboration across divisions, strengthen relationships with the Board and external partners, and help ensure the district remains focused on the strategic work necessary to improve outcomes and opportunities for every CCSD student. He will maintain operational oversight of the Chief Financial Officer and information technology reporting lines to ensure continuity and ongoing execution of key initiatives.

To ensure continuity during this transition, Deputy Chief Financial Officer Jessica Carraher will serve as Interim Chief Financial Officer while CCSD conducts the process to appoint its next CFO. Carraher will oversee the district’s day-to-day financial operations and work closely with Prentice and district leadership to maintain the strong financial management, transparency, and strategic alignment already underway.