Chicora principal appointed to position permanently
June 6, 2022
Charleston County School District (CCSD) is proud to announce Monica Smalls as principal at Chicora Elementary School. Smalls served as assistant principal at Chicora from 2018 to 2021 before becoming the school’s interim principal last year.
Smalls began her career in education as a guidance counselor and parent advocate at Minnie Hughes Elementary and C.C. Blaney Elementary in 2001. Prior to joining CCSD, Smalls was a human service specialist with the Department of Social Services for four years.
Following her time at Blaney and Minnie Hughes, Smalls became a lead guidance counselor at Brentwood Middle followed by CCSD’s Sixth Grade Academy between 2007 and 2010.
In 2014, Smalls took a position with Community Resources Solutions as a behavior management aide. In this role, Smalls allocated an array of services to adult and juvenile clients including treatment plans and case management, as well as provided support, counseling, and education to clients to assist them in achieving their recovery goals.
Two years later, Smalls rejoined CCSD as a school counselor at A.C. Corcoran Elementary School. While at Corcoran, Smalls provided classroom guidance, served as a member on several teams including Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and coordinated testing, 504 plans, homebound, and truancy. Additionally, she served on the school improvement council (SIC) and as the school’s behavioral team facilitator.
Smalls earned a Bachelor of Social Work from Norfolk State University, a Master of Clinical Counseling from Webster University, and a Master of Administration and Supervision from Charleston Southern University. She also was a member of CCSD’s ASPIRE Program in Fall 2013 and was named her school’s 2005-2006 Teacher of the Year.
For more information, contact the Division of Strategy and Communications at (843) 937-6303.
About the Charleston County School District
Charleston County School District (CCSD), a nationally-accredited school district, is the second largest school system in South Carolina representing a unique blend of urban, suburban, and rural schools spanning 1,300 square miles along the coast. CCSD serves more than 50,000 students in 87 schools and specialized programs. With approximately 6,100 employees district-wide, CCSD is the fourth largest employer in the region.
CCSD offers a diverse, expanding portfolio of options and specialized programs, delivered through neighborhood, charter, magnet, IB (international baccalaureate), and Montessori schools, and is divided into three Learning Communities. Options include specialized programs in science, engineering and mathematics; liberal arts; music and other creative and performing arts; career and technical preparation programs; and military and other public service enterprises.
