Michelle Simmons selected as CCSD Chief Academic Officer

Charleston County School District (CCSD) announced Michelle Simmons as Chief Academic Officer. Simmons has served as the district’s Interim Chief Academic Officer (CAO) since July 2022. Prior to her role as Interim CAO, Simmons served as the Associate Superintendent of the Elementary Learning Community. She has served the students and families of CCSD for the past 25 years.

Simmons came to CCSD as an elementary school teacher at Mary Ford  Elementary School (now Mary Ford Early Learning and Family Center) in  1998. While at Mary Ford, Simmons served as an instructional leader of students with varying abilities and needs for four years before being promoted to lead teacher. As lead teacher, Simmons assisted the principal with the daily operation and management of the school in addition to providing professional development and instructional support to staff.

In 2003, Simmons joined the administration at nearby W.B. Goodwin  Elementary School as assistant principal. In this role, Simmons assisted with the daily operation and management of the school while also supporting the implementation of the school’s vision, goals, and programs.

A standout in her field, it was not long before Simmons was promoted to the position of principal at [the former] C.C. Blaney Elementary in Hollywood, SC, in  2007. At Blaney, Simmons served as the manager and supervisor of a rural elementary program with approximately 250 students. She spent three years serving at Blaney before accepting the principal position at Stono Park Elementary in West Ashley. At both C.C. Blaney and Stono Park Elementary, Simmons led alongside talented teachers to increase each school’s respective report card ratings.

Outstanding leadership skills coupled with a proven track record of success,  Simmons was tapped to become the district’s Interim Director of Elementary  Schools in 2018. In this position, Simmons oversaw 15 elementary schools and principals around the county for six months before being promoted to supervise all elementary schools and elementary principals as the Executive Director of  Elementary Schools. For the next two years as Executive Director, Simmons supported unsatisfactory rated schools and helped improve their status on the state report card as well as helped lead the district’s Mission Critical efforts to restructure magnet programs to increase access and diversity.

Simmons was named Associate Superintendent of Elementary Schools in 2020  where she managed and supervised over 38 schools and saw academic growth in  60% (Reading) and 70% (Math) of her schools.

“Michelle is an outstanding individual, educator, and leader,” said Acting  Superintendent Anita Huggins. “Words do not adequately describe her commitment and dedication to our craft, and to our nearly 50,000 students and  their families. I am truly humbled to work with and alongside her and could not be  more thrilled to permanently welcome Ms. Simmons to this role.”

Simmons earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from South  Carolina State University and a Master of Education in Elementary Administration and Supervision from The Citadel. She also holds an Education Specialist degree from The Citadel. Simmons is actively pursuing a doctoral degree in Education  Leadership at Charleston Southern University