Public Education Partners hires Schumacher to serve as CEO

October 8, 2019

Public Education Partners (PEP), Greenville County’s only nonprofit focused solely on improving K–12 public education, has hired Catherine Schumacher to serve as President & CEO, effective November 4, 2019.

“PEP continues to lead the way in discussions about K-12 public education, supporting and elevating teachers and their profession, and ensuring access to a quality education for all,” said Schumacher. “I am honored to be entrusted with this role, to have the opportunity to build on the extraordinary work of Public Education Partners’ past leaders, Grier Mullins and Ansel Sanders, and to be able to work with a fantastic team, Board, and group of partner stakeholders, including Greenville County Schools.”

A native of Spartanburg and graduate of Harvard University, Schumacher moved to Greenville and launched Schumacher Consulting, LLC in 2005. Over the last 14 years the strategic consulting practice has worked with a broad range of nonprofit organizations in the Upstate and beyond, working in education, social and human services, and arts and culture. These organizations include the Hispanic Alliance, Urban League of the Upstate, The Riley Institute, Artisphere and Greenville Center for Creative Arts, among others.

“Catherine’s 20 plus years of non-profit leadership, her strategic mindset and her passion for public education will lead us toward our vision of a Greenville County that shines as a model for how collective community engagement yields opportunities and success for all students in public schools,” said Dr. John Kaup, PEP Board Chair.

Schumacher’s perspective on public education in Greenville County Schools (GCS) has been shaped not only by her extensive work in the nonprofit sector, but through her engagement as a member of PEP’s Board of Directors for the last three years, and as SIC Chair and PTA officer for Sterling School.