Teams Archive - Charleston County School District

Anita Huggins

Anita Huggins, is the current Superintendent, she has served CCSD for over 25 years.

During her time in the role, Anita is committed to three priorities:

Building upon the success of her predecessors, she will continue to improve student outcomes for all students while working intentionally to close the achievement and opportunity gaps.
Anita is focused on supporting classrooms and teachers. She believes strongly the classroom teacher is the most important factor in a student’s success.
She’s committed to streamlining school-based supports for teachers and students.

Huggins is a beloved educator whose relentless commitment and deep sense of service have been instrumental to Charleston County School District over the last two decades. As Deputy Superintendent, her passion for closing the achievement gap for students of color has been demonstrated through district-wide efforts in planning literacy and mathematics educational opportunities that serve all students, including her involvement in key ESSER funding initiatives in the D20 (downtown), D4 (North Charleston) and D23 (Hollywood/Ravenel) constituent areas. Ms. Huggins was charged with designing, executing, and measuring the success of programs that support Vision 2027, which aspires to have all students reading at grade level by fifth grade by the Spring of 2027. She was also a key architect of the work that led CCSD to its highest-ever SC Ready achievement scores.

Prior to being named Deputy Superintendent as the Interim Chief Transformation Officer, Ms. Huggins was responsible for working with the Superintendent, senior leaders, and other stakeholders to establish the district’s vision and develop strategies to meet the needs of all students. Huggins has ensured the use of effective systems coupled with accountability and support structures to serve schools, students, and communities.

Huggins’ professional accomplishments include serving as a Riley Institute Diversity Leaders Initiative fellow, English teacher, master teacher, principal, director, and executive director. She has served in various CCSD schools and communities during her tenure, including Simmons-Pinckney Middle School, Burke High School, Edmund A. Burns Elementary School, and Fort Johnson Middle School. As the Executive Director of Educator Effectiveness for over 12 years, Huggins impacted classrooms throughout CCSD by training hundreds of teachers and administrators; she focused on planning for instruction effectively, instructional delivery, and developing conducive environments for learners. In that role, Huggins was instrumental in creating district-wide systems for teacher development, support, and recognition while leading a team that designed and executed An Evening with Stars gala event to recognize teachers and principals. Proceeds from that event supported the Charleston Educator Symposium, a locally-recognized, multi-day professional development event for educators.

Throughout her career, Huggins has presented at numerous conferences, served as a guest lecturer, facilitated and served on various panels, and co-authored journal articles to help grow and support aspiring, novice, and veteran educators. Chair McKinney said of Huggins, “Ms. Huggins’ breadth of experience in Charleston and diverse skill set uniquely positions her for this role. A respected educator with a heart for kids, her enthusiasm and passion for ensuring all students achieve at very high levels will serve students and schools well.”

Huggins holds bachelor’s degrees in both English and Secondary Education and a master’s degree in Secondary Administration.

Jeffrey Borowy

Borowy has served as Deputy for Capital Programs since 2014 after more than 28 years as a Naval Officer. During Borowy’s time in service, he filled roles such as the Vice Commander for the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, the Chief of Staff for the First Naval Construction Division, and the Commanding Officer of NAVFAC Europe Africa Southwest Asia. He holds a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from Ohio Northern University, and a Master’s in Environmental Engineering from Georgia Tech.

Bill Briggman

William Briggman, Chief Human Resources Officer of the Charleston County School District (CCSD) is a University of South Carolina alum and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing Research and Human Personnel Resources, a Master of Arts in Education and Administration as well as an Educational Specialist Degree in School Counseling, all from UofSC. Mr. Briggman has provided dedicated service to CCSD for over twenty-two years and, as a result, was recognized by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators as the 2019 Personnel Administrator of the Year. He has played an active leadership role at the state level serving as the President of the SCASA Personnel Division as well as various leadership roles and on the SCASA Board of Directors.

Most recently he has been asked to serve as an advisor to SC-TEACHER, a state-wide initiative led by UofSC and funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, to innovate our current teacher and school leadership development system with the goal of creating a national model. In addition to serving as the leader of the CCSD Human Resources Division for twelve years, he served as the Director of HR Operations, Director of Teacher Recruitment, and the Executive Director of HR. He continues to be a leader in paving the way for equitable educator compensation and innovative educator recruitment in South Carolina.

Vanessa Denney

A veteran of Charleston County School District, Denney has served CCSD for over 20 years. In that time, she has demonstrated a deep commitment to engaging with partners across the County and to working with students, families, and neighborhoods maintaining a focus on student outcomes. Until August 2022, Denney served as the founding principal at Early College High School (ECHS) which first opened in 2017. In her tenure as principal, she demonstrated expertise in strategic planning and in bringing to life a vision that led to student success. As the principal, she successfully engaged with families and school communities across the district.

She began her teaching career as a 7th-grade Social Studies teacher, department chair, and grade-level chair at R.D. Schroder Middle School in Hollywood, SC. Next, she became an Instructional Coach and Administrator at Alice Birney Middle School in North Charleston. In an instructional leadership role at Burke High School, she then worked with educators and provided experiences that forged students’ paths to college and careers. As the Secondary Learning Community (SLC) Career and Technology Education (CTE) Coordinator, she engaged local business partners in the creation of opportunities for CCSD students at three high schools: Burke, St. John’s, and RB Stall–resulting in each school earning 100% Work-based Learning rates during Denney’s tenure from 2012-14. While an Assistant Principal at North Charleston High School (NCHS), she expanded CTE offerings to include the addition of four new CTE

completer pathways. Her work as the Graduation Rate Team Chairperson from 2014-16 resulted in a 12.46% increase in NCHS’s graduation rate.

Denney holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from The College of Charleston, a Master of Education in Elementary Administration, and a certificate in Secondary Administration, both from The Citadel. She also holds a Certificate in Education Finance from Georgetown University. In 2022, she was recognized as an Alumna of the Year from the School of Education, Health, and Human Performance at the College of Charleston.

Dr. Sherry Eppelsheimer

Before becoming Associate Superintendent of High Schools, Dr. Sherry Eppelsheimer served as principal at Wando High School, one of the largest schools in the state, for the last seven years. A career educator, Eppelsheimer began her service to students in 1989 in Greenwood School District 50 at Greenwood High School in Greenwood, SC. She taught English for 14 years at Greenwood while also holding an adjunct teaching position at nearby Piedmont Area Consortium and Piedmont Technical College. In 2003, Eppelsheimer used her talents in the classroom to further her impact with students by becoming an instructional specialist at Brewer Middle School before being named Director of the ELA Vertical Team and served as the Summer Enrichment and Intervention Director from 2006-2008.

After nearly 20 years of service in Greenwood, Eppelsheimer left the Midlands for the Lowcountry, taking an assistant principal position as Wando High School in Mt. Pleasant, SC. It was only a short time before Eppelsheimer was promoted from assistant principal to associate principal at Wando where she continued to grow her leadership skills while assisting in all areas of high school management, administration, and daily activities. A demonstrated leader, in 2015, Eppelsheimer was named interim principal of Wando High after long-time Wando High School Principal Lucy Beckham took the role of Executive Principal of East Cooper Schools. As interim principal, Eppelsheimer planned and directed the overall activities of a high school serving 3,500 students with nearly 300 staff members. She oversaw recruitment, hiring and retention, professional development, faculty and staff evaluations, fiscal management, administration organization, student discipline, program initiatives, and team building. She was promoted to the position permanently one year later in 2016.

Eppelsheimer holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Lander University and a Master of Education in Secondary Guidance and Counseling from Clemson University. She completed her EDLP certification and earned a Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of South Carolina. Recognized for her outstanding leadership and talents, Eppelsheimer is the recipient of several awards including the Greenwood County and District 2 Business and Professional Women’s Young Careerist of the Year Award (1995), Greenwood High School Teacher of the Year (1994-95), WYFF Channel 4 Golden Apple Teacher Award (1998), Greenwood School District 50 and Greenwood County Star Teacher Award (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004), Brewer Middle School Teacher of the Year Award (2006-07), and the South Carolina Librarian Association Intellectual Freedom Award (2019). She also serves on the East Cooper Medical Center Governing Board.

Jacqueline Haynes

Jacqueline K. Haynes is the Executive Director of Acceleration Schools with the Charleston County School District in Charleston, SC. Her goal is to level the playing field for students of color so that access to college and higher-level learning is attainable. Mrs. Haynes previously served as the Director of Achievement Schools with the Hillsborough County Public School System in Tampa, FL. Her unique perspective and personalized approach in mentoring other professionals has resulted in many leaders advancing to higher-level positions. In addition, turning a school around from a “D” status to an “A” status by pushing forward high academic standards and rigorous coursework for all students is one of her proudest accomplishments. She holds A National Teacher Center Certification in Coaching; Courageous Conversations Affiliate Certification in Equity (Glenn Singleton); and D.E.E.P. Certification (Equity).

Ms. Haynes has served on several national committees and has participated in a National Professional Learning Community with the Wallace Foundation, where she is featured in a publication and video titled, The School Principal as Leader: Guiding Schools to Better Teaching and Learning. She believes that shifting Principals from building managers to one of leading instructional change will ensure that ALL students receive a quality education. Ms. Haynes has earned a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling; ED.S in Innovative Education; and is currently a Doctoral Candidate at the University of South Florida. She is the former principal of Howard W. Blake High School, where she was named the first African-American Female High School Principal in Hillsborough County.

She is a proud graduate of Florida State University, BA in Education; University of South Florida, ED.S. in Innovative Education, and currently a USF Doctoral candidate. She resides in Charleston, SC with her husband, Anthony L. Haynes and is the mother of Arielle Haynes Burnette, married to Christopher Burnette of Atlanta, George, and Anthony L. Haynes, II, of Miami, Florida.

Terri Nichols

Terri H. Nichols is a longtime employee of the Charleston County School District who has dedicated most of her adult life to children, teaching, and learning. She began her career as a teacher at Morningside Elementary and also taught at Brentwood Middle School where she was named Teacher of the Year and a CCSD semi-finalist in 1987. Mrs. Nichols moved into administration and became Assistant Principal at Hunley Park before she was named Principal at Mary Ford Elementary in 1991. During her tenure at Mary Ford, the school was recognized by the National Title I department at their convention in Anaheim, California for demonstrating marked academic achievement in both reading and mathematics. Additionally, Mrs. Nichols was awarded the CCSD Principal of the Year Honor in 1996.

Mrs. Nichols continued as a principal moving to lead Belle Hall Elementary from 1999 through 2008. During this time, the school maintained its excellent rating awarded by the South Carolina Department of Education. Mrs. Nichols, a huge supporter of students with special needs, was recognized by the Downs Syndrome Association of the Lowcountry with the Education Award in 2005, and, in 2009, she was awarded the Friend of Reading Recovery for her support of Reading Recovery as an intervention for struggling first-grade readers.

In 2008, Mrs. Nichols became an Associate Superintendent for elementary schools supervising at first 17 elementary schools and ultimately having primary responsibility for the operation and supervision of all 45 elementary schools in CCSD.

The Citadel and the Anita Zucker School of Education honored Mrs. Nichols with the Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2017 for her many years of service to the students, teachers, and parents of Charleston County.

Her current role is Interim Executive Associate Superintendent of Literacy and Certified Staff Development and is working with a variety of initiatives including literacy and leadership development.

Michelle Simmons

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.

Jennifer Swearingen

Dr. Swearingen is a long-standing Charleston County School District employee. She started as a 5th and 6th grade math teacher at Ladson Elementary School, the assistant principal at Jennie Moore Elementary School, and the principal at Oakland Elementary School before becoming a Director of the Elementary Learning Community. In this role, she supervised and supported elementary schools across the district. She is now the Associate Superintendent for Elementary Learning Community.

Dr. Swearingen has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the College of Charleston, a Masters of Elementary Education Administration from The Citadel, a Specialist in Educational Leadership from The Citadel, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration (CD-12) from the University of South Carolina.

In her free time, she likes to do yard work and spend time with her dogs and family.

Daniel Prentice

Prentice, a proud Charleston County School District graduate, joins the district from Dorchester County, where he has served as Deputy County Administrator and Chief Financial Officer since

2016.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the College of Charleston and a Master of Business Administration from Louisiana State University Shreveport. He is the recipient of several awards including the 2013 City of Charleston Volunteer Award, the GFOA Distinguished Budget Award (eight years), and the GFOA Excellence in Financial Reporting Award (five years). He is also Six Sigma Green Belt certified. Additionally, Prentice serves as a South Carolina Counties Other Post Employment Benefits Trust Trustee and as a member of the state’s Tourism Expenditure Review Committee. His professional memberships include the National and South Carolina Government Finance Officers Association, South Carolina City and County Managers Association, International City and County Managers Association, and the South Carolina Association of Counties.