Gearing up for school packs a myriad of emotions, possibilities

It’s hard to believe that the start of the 2024-25 school year is upon us, but here we are. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, guardian or fellow staff member, I share your excitement and perhaps a bit of nervousness as we embark on another school year. This familiar feeling is filled with joy and anticipation for what lies ahead.

I am deeply thankful for our teachers, faculty, school leaders and district staff who have worked tirelessly to prepare for the new year. Their dedication ensures that our children are welcomed back to a nurturing and enriching educational environment.

Our teams have been diligently crafting an unparalleled educational experience for your students. Recently, we hosted the Charleston Educator Symposium, a marquee event that provided educators with professional development opportunities designed to inspire and enhance our craft, and in turn, your child’s school experience. Our support teams in operations, human resources, finance, academics, legal services and communications have all contributed to readying our system to support every child in every part of the county in 2024-25.

This year, I look forward to seeing the positive impacts of our landmark budget. Our Weighted Student Funding (WSF) formula will provide additional resources to all schools and will improve outcomes for pupils in poverty, multilingual learners and students with disabilities. I anticipate remarkable student success across all schools.

I’m also excited about the well-deserved increase in compensation for our teachers and support staff whose dedication is essential to our mission of serving your children.

It is an exciting time at CCSD! We are building on our upward momentum, evidenced by historic improvements in reading proficiency scores, an increase in the number of schools with an Excellent rating on state report cards, and our recent re-accreditation from Cognia.

As your Superintendent, it is an honor to serve this district. CCSD holds a special place in my heart — my own children attend school here, and I have worked at nearly every level in this district for over two decades. I am humbled to work alongside dedicated and talented colleagues who keep a laser focus on kids and put children first every day.

If I can assist you in any way, please reach out to me at superintendent@charleston.k12.sc.us or join our Official Charleston County School District Parents Facebook page.

Wishing you all a successful and fulfilling school year!