Elevation Schools

Michelle Simmons has served as a CCSD administrator for 14 years before leading the ELC. Previously she led Stono Park Elementary School, serving as principal since 2010.

Simmons also served as principal of CC Blaney Elementary School, Assistant Principal at Goodwin Elementary School, and began her career in education in Charleston County, teaching at the Mary Ford Elementary School. Simmons holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from South Carolina State University and a Master’s in Elementary Education Administration and Supervision as well as an Ed.S. in Education Leadership from The Citadel.

Dr. Timisha "TBJ" Barnes-Jones is a transformational leader with more than two decades of experience. Dr. Barnes-Jones has earned a national reputation for developing exceptional leaders, transforming schools, strengthening organizational culture, and driving measurable improvements in student achievement. She has led in other districts previously as Chief of Schools, Assistant Superintendent of Talent Development and School Transformation, Area Superintendent, Director of School Improvement, and an award-winning principal.

In her new role, Dr. Barnes-Jones will lead CCSD's efforts to strengthen organizational effectiveness, cultivate leadership at every level, advance innovation, and develop systems that support continuous improvement throughout the district.

Dr. Barnes-Jones earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Gardner-Webb University, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Supervision from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Davidson College. She remains actively engaged in national leadership organizations, superintendent development initiatives, and professional learning networks dedicated to advancing public education.

Lashawna Harris has served as the district’s Director of Instructional Programs since 2019. Harris brings over 20 years of diverse experience developing and implementing programs to increase student academic success to the role. She began her career in 1998 as a CCSD classroom teacher at R.D. Schroder Middle School in Hollywood, SC, where she taught sixth through eighth grade social studies. During her time at Schroder, Harris served as department and grade level chair, as well as a Mentor and Cooperating Teacher.

In 2005, Harris took her talents to Berkeley County at Cross High School where she taught eighth grade social studies. While at Cross, Harris improved student achievement resulting in 75-80% student proficiency on the Palmetto Achievement of State Standards (PASS) while collaborating with grade level and department team members to improve instructional delivery.

A standout in her field, Harris was quickly selected by the State Department of Education (SDE) to become a Teacher Specialist two years later at St. George Middle School to provide instructional coaching to the Social Studies Department. While with the SDE, Harris developed 6-8 curriculum maps to support the implementation of content area standards, as well as organized and facilitated professional development focused on improving student academic success. Overall, she led an 11% increase in the Social Studies Department Standardized Test Scores during her time in this role. With a keen interest in growing professionally as a school administrator, Harris took the position of Title I Facilitator at Cross High School. As the Title I Facilitator, Harris managed the annual Title I operating budget and served as testing coordinator for South Carolina Department of Education Standardized Testing, including HSAP, EOC, and PASS. She also organized and facilitated a parenting program, resulting in increased parental involvement and a 16% increase in School Report Card Survey Results in the areas of teacher and parent satisfaction with school-home relations.

Harris joined CCSD’s Learning Services division at the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year as the leader of the district’s Virtual Schools program. As the leader of this program, Harris coordinated the management of all operations and functions of the CCSD Online Learning Department, including online, distance, and virtual learning programs, in a manner consistent with state and district policies. She also successfully implemented the CCSD Virtual Franchise to expand course offerings in partnership with VirtualSC and coordinated with stakeholders to implement the CCSD Distance Learning Program to expand AP course offerings for rural Title I schools. In her current role as Director of Instructional Programs, Harris works collaboratively within her division to align instructional programs planning and organizational procedures with the goals and action steps outlined in CCSD’s strategic plan and adopted guidelines. She also provides leadership to ensure integration and cooperation between the coordinators of CCSD instructional programs and school-based administration and staff.

Harris earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Georgia Southern University, a Master of Education in Student Diversity from Southern Wesleyan University, and an Education Specialist degree in Leadership from Cambridge
College.