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.
He is a native of North Charleston, S.C. and attended Charleston County Public Schools graduating from North Charleston High School in 1991. Immediately after high school, Dr. Williams joined the U.S. Army and served as a medical specialist until 1995. While in the military he served in both combat and medical settings. In 1995 he started his matriculation through higher learning enrolling at South Carolina State University where he graduated with honors in 1998 with a degree in Biology and General Science Education. In 1999 he pursued his degree in Counselor Education, again graduating with honors in 2001. In 2008 he received his Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi in Educational Leadership and Supervision. Dr. Williams participated in a Leadership Academy at Harvard, received Diversity Leadership Training and certification through Furman University’s Riley Institute and has attended numerous trainings on literacy at the state level that addressed improving literacy practices in education. His 17-year tenure in Orangeburg and Charleston counties has influenced his philosophy of education: “All children can learn if given the opportunity and support systems needed.”
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.
White has served as an interim Executive Director of the Elementary Learning Community since 2023.
White first served in the field of education as a classroom teacher at Claude Pepper Elementary School in Miami, FL, starting in 1992. She spent seven years in Florida before returning to South Carolina briefly to teach pre-Algebra at St. Georgia Middle School. In 2001, White returned to Miami as a mathematics facilitator at Irving & Beatrice Peskoe Elementary School, followed by a two-year post as a lower quartile mathematics teacher at Henry S. West Laboratory School.
Returning to South Carolina indefinitely, White joined CCSD as an assistant principal at Sanders-Clyde Elementary School in 2009. In this role, White created the school’s master schedule for all grade levels; supported the implementation of the school’s vision, mission, and goals; participated on several Induction teams and SAFE-T teams; completed Competency-Building Plans; facilitated Goals Based Evaluation (GBE) meetings; and assisted the principal with all aspects of school operation and instruction. She also served as interim principal for several months in 2011.
In 2012, White was named principal at James Simons Elementary (now Montessori). During her time at James Simons, White facilitated the implementation of a full Montessori program for students age three to eighth grade, planned and opened a new state-of-the-art school facility, and worked to ensure that the needs of her students and families were met through planning and programs with valuable partners such as Charleston Promise Neighborhood (CPN), Trident United Way, and Parent Advocates. In 2017, White was named principal at A.C. Corcoran Elementary School where she served for four years before becoming Principal of Special Projects and Support for the Elementary Learning Community in 2022.
White holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Barry University, a Master of Science in Mathematics Education from Florida State University, and an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership form Nova Southeastern University. The recipient of several awards and accomplishments, White was named the 2013 CCSD Rookie Principal of the Year and received the 2019 Channel 2 Cool School Award. She also completed her Montessori Administrator certification and the South Carolina School Leadership Executive Institute program. White is a member of the National Education Association, the South Carolina Association of School Administrators, and the National Alliance of Black School Educators.
Mitchell has served as an interim Executive Director of the Elementary Learning Community since 2022.
Throughout her career, Mitchell, an award-winning CCSD teacher and administrator, has held various positions in education from the classroom to district administration in a variety of domestic and international settings. Mitchell’s first role as a school-based leader was as an assistant principal at Charles Pinckney Elementary School in 2004 where she led over 900 students and 70 staff members daily.
A highly organized and effective leader, Mitchell was selected to become principal at James B. Edwards Elementary School (JBE) in 2009. While at JBE, Mitchell focused her talents on curriculum development, child growth and development, instructional strategies, and classroom management. She left JBE in 2015 to relocate to Illinois where she served as a lead faculty member for Atlantic Research Partners, a company focused on research-based teacher professional development and training on pedagogical best practices directly linked to student academic achievement.
In 2016, Mitchell relocated back to South Carolina where she rejoined the district as a Director of Employee Relations. In this capacity, Mitchell worked with district employees at all levels of the organization to resolve conflicts, mentor and advise as needed, and help develop employee improvement plans for six years before her appointment to serve as interim Executive Director of Elementary Learning in 2022.
Mitchell holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Ohio State and a Master of Art in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan. She has been the recipient of several leadership awards throughout her career including the 2014-2015 Elementary Learning Community’s Star Principal Award and the Palmetto Gold Award every year during her tenure at James B. Edwards. She also holds early childhood, elementary, and principal certifications.
Rich Gordon is the Executive Director of Career and Technology Education (CTE) in the Charleston County School District.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Rutgers University followed by a Master of Education in Teaching and Curriculum from Harvard, a Master of Education in Secondary Education from Charleston Southern, and an Educational Specialist Degree in School Systems, Superintendency, and Leadership from Webster.
Rich and served as a math and computer science teacher at George Washington High School in Denver, CO and Academic Magnet High School in Charleston, SC. He was also an Assistant Principal and Principal at James Island Charter High School before his current assignment. As the Executive Director of Career and Technology Education, his passion is to prepare students to be college and career ready by providing rigorous and relevant academic, technical, and employability training for a wide variety of high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand careers.
Rich also served his country in two tours of active duty military service during 2003-2004 and 2012-2013. He currently serves as the Battalion Commander of the 751st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion in the South Carolina Army National Guard.
Trevor Strawderman joined Charleston County School District in 2019 as an Executive Director of the Secondary Learning Community primarily overseeing North Charleston High School and their athletic Department. He has been in education for 27 years with 20 of those years as an educational administrator. During his educational tenure, he served as a special education teacher, men’s varsity basketball and football coach, assistant principal, and principal. He was nominated and served on the South Carolina Board of Education in 2018 and 2019. In 2019, he was named the South Carolina 4-AAAA High School Principal of the Year by the South Carolina Athletic Administrators Association.
Cumback has served in Charleston County schools for the past 18 years, most recently as the principal of West Ashley High School (WAHS) since 2019.
During his tenure at WAHS, he increased enrollment by nearly 400 students, leading a transformation for the school and the West Ashley community. Under his leadership, WAHS established a partnership with the College of Charleston to enhance educational opportunities and resources. His tenure saw a 29 percent increase in students scoring a C or higher on the Algebra 1 End-of-Course (EOC) exam and led the US History program to achieve the highest EOC scores in the state among comparable schools. His efforts significantly boosted graduation rates, surpassing 80 percent in three out of four years – a milestone achieved only four times in the school’s 24-year history.
Prior to his time at WAHS, he served as the principal of Moultrie Middle School for three years. During his tenure at Moultrie, he transformed the school into the top-ranked neighborhood middle school in the state within just three years. He established and fostered Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), directly impacting academic growth and achievement among students. In his final year at Moultrie, 95 percent of all students met their SC READY progress goals, and 100 percent of students identified as being in the bottom 20 percent academically met their SC READY progress goals, demonstrating exceptional educational progress.
Before becoming the principal at Moultrie, he was the associate principal of curriculum and instruction at WAHS and served as the assistant principal overseeing ninth and tenth grade students, the Science Department, Math Department, and the Fine Arts Department. His responsibilities included overseeing the implementation of EEDA At-Risk and SC School Climate grants, supporting induction teachers, conducting formal teacher observations and evaluations, administering state tests, acting as grants liaison, providing professional development, coordinating 504 plans, analyzing academic and behavioral data, and serving as Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) chair.
Cumback received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Western Michigan University and a Master of Secondary Educational Administration from The Citadel. He was the recipient of the 2010 South Carolina Department of Education “Initiative Award” for WAHS’s CATS Program and was named Charleston County School District’s High School Star Principal of the Year for the 2022-2023 school year.
