Valerie E. Harrison, Ed.D. appointed Interim Chief Academic Officer for CCSD
October 13, 2015
CHARLESTON, SC – The Charleston County School District (CCSD) announces that Dr. Valerie E. Harrison has been appointed interim chief academic officer. Harrison will begin leading the academic program of work on a part-time basis immediately, and will continue in a full-time capacity in January 2016.
Harrison currently serves as the Dean of the School of Education at Claflin University in Orangeburg, S.C. Although the published academician is making a significant impact in higher education, Harrison’s extensive background and most of her portfolio’s experience is PK-12.
Harrison is a former teacher, parent coordinator, curriculum coordinator, assistant superintendent (three districts), superintendent, and deputy superintendent for the Division of Standards and Learning and Accountability for the South Carolina State Department of Education, working for former Superintendent of Education, Jim Rex.
“We are very fortunate that Dr. Harrison will be joining CCSD,” said Superintendent Gerrita Postlewait. “As the interim chief academic officer, I am confident her extensive experience and passion for educating all youth will make a significant impact; her expertise will immediately assist us in reaching our goals.”
Harrison holds both a bachelor’s and master’s in English from South Carolina State University. She received her terminal degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of South Carolina. She has studied at The Citadel, Vanderbilt, and The Center for Creative Leadership.
A native of Orangeburg, S.C., Harrison holds membership with the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, the South Carolina Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and Phi Delta Kappa.
“I am thrilled to once again be able to make a positive impact for students in PK-12 grades. Charleston County has made strides in several areas over the past decade, and is poised to be a leader in student readiness and best practices in 21st century learning,” Harrison said.
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