CCSD announces leadership changes

February 16, 2022

Charleston County School District (CCSD) announces the  following interim leadership changes: Anita Huggins will serve as the Interim Chief  Transformation Officer; Terri Nichols will serve as the Interim Executive Associate  Superintendent of Schools; and Channa Williams will serve as the Interim Chief  Financial Officer. These changes are effective immediately.  

“These changes are necessary at this time to better align the work of the district to  the goal of all students reading on grade level by fifth grade by the spring of  2027,” said CCSD’s Interim Superintendent of Schools Don Kennedy. 

Huggins will serve as Interim Chief Transformation Officer. In this position, she will  be responsible for setting the vision and direction for identifying and scaling  creative ideas and strategies that work throughout the district. Her primary focus  will be ensuring that effective systems, accountability and support structures are in  place to support the district’s vision of students reading on grade level, with a laser  focus on the learning of students in high poverty settings. Huggins has a breadth  of experience in CCSD as teacher, principal, and central staff leader. She served  for nearly 15 years in the Office of Teacher Effectiveness (OTE), including several  years as the director of that department. Currently, Huggins is serving as Executive  Director of High Schools. She will continue to work with schools and principals for  the remainder of the 2021-22 school year. 

Nichols will be the Interim Executive Associate Superintendent of Schools. In this  new role, Nichols will support both Michelle Simmons, Associate Superintendent for  Elementary Schools and Dr. Joe Williams, Associate Superintendent for Secondary  Schools, in their work with school leaders. Nichols has a wealth of experience in  CCSD. She has served as a teacher in two North Charleston schools, Assistant  Principal at Hunley Park Elementary, and Principal at both Mary Ford Elementary  and Belle Hall Elementary prior to her current role as the Associate Superintendent  working in Human Resources with both Employee Relations and Teacher  Evaluation. Nichols supervised elementary schools as Associate Superintendent for  the Elementary Learning Community as well.  

Williams, currently the Deputy Chief Financial Officer, was appointed Interim Chief  Financial Officer on January 3, 2022. She joined the District in August 2021, and  brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to CCSD from the financial sector in  both K-12 and higher education as well as the private and public sectors in Science. 

 

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 of 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 49,000 students in 88 schools and specialized programs. 

CCSD offers a diverse, expanding portfolio of options and specialized programs, delivered through neighborhood,  magnet, IB (international baccalaureate), Montessori, and charter schools. Options include programs in science,  technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); music and other creative and performing arts; career and  technical preparation programs; and military.