Charleston Education Partners selects Dr. Katchia Gethers as its founding Chief Executive

Charleston Education Partners (CEP), an education champion organization, announced the appointment of Dr. Katchia Gethers as CEP’s first Chief Executive Officer.

Dr. Gethers brings 20+ years of experience in education, managing academic programs and operational processes. She comes to CEP as a highly successful principal at Hunley Park Elementary in North Charleston, where she has served with distinction since 2020. Her background includes extensive experience in assessments, budget planning, fundraising, collaborative partnerships, consultative relationships, continuous improvement, curriculum development and instructional leadership. She holds an EdD in Education Leadership from Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from the University of Hawaii.

In announcing her appointment, Rev. Eric Manning, the Board Chair and Pastor at Mother Emanuel AME, stated, “Dr. Gethers is a prominent figure in North Charleston and throughout the county, and we are fortunate to have her. She is exceptionally well-prepared to lead our work in partnering with school communities to help them realize their full potential, in collaboration with Charleston County School District (CCSD) and other local organizations. Dr. Gethers will begin her role in late July, focusing on engaging with community leaders, influencers, educators, and families to help the board determine the most impactful place to start.”

CEP was established in 2022 after years of community discussion on whether a champion organization was needed in the region. Based on its research and in hiring Dr. Gethers, the CEP board reaffirms its belief that sustainable school transformation in Charleston can best be accomplished through the authentic engagement and empowerment of the community that surrounds a school. CEP is a 501(c)(3) organization established for that purpose and currently operating as a fiscal sponsorship of Coastal Community Foundation.