Dr. Joseph Williams

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.”

Quenetta White

Quenetta 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 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.

Francine Mitchell

Mitchell has previously served as the principal of James B. Edwards Elementary. Throughout her career, Mitchell, an award-winning Charleston County School District teacher and administrator, has held other various positions in education including Assistant Principal and Assistant Administrator at Charles Pinckney Elementary and teacher in a variety of domestic and international settings. Mitchell holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Ohio State and a Master’s in Leadership and Counseling from Eastern Michigan. Mitchell has received several leadership awards 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.

Amy Cario

Amy Cario started with the Charleston County School District as a teacher in the Deaf / Hard of Hearing Program at J. H. Berry Elementary School in 1988.  She continued to serve Deaf / Hard of Hearing students at Oakland Elementary and at Charlestowne Academy as the program moved locations. 

In 2008, Cario joined the administrative team at C.E. Williams Middle School as an Assistant Principal.  In 2010, she was tasked to serve the students, faculty, and staff, at Edith L. Frierson Elementary as Principal.  From 2012-2021, she filled the same role of Principal for the St.Andrew’s School of Math and Science Elementary. 

In 2021, Cario joined the operations team as a Principal on Special Assignment to update educational building specifications for new construction projects and serve as a liaison for other Principals during the building process.

Cario has a Bachelor of Arts in Deaf/Hard of Hearing Education from Lenoir Rhyne College and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education Administration from The Citadel.

Dr. Colleen Knauer

Colleen Knauer currently serves in the role of Principal of Special Projects and Support for CCSD’s Secondary Learning Community. Over the last 15 years, Dr. Knauer has served as Principal of Northwoods Middle School and Assistant Principal of North Charleston High School. During her time with CCSD, she has also served as an Instructional Coach, Department Chair, Mathematics Teacher, and English Teacher.

Dr. Knauer holds a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary English from the University of Rhode Island, a Master of Arts in Mathematics Education from The Citadel, an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Northeastern University, and a Principal Licensure from the University of Scranton in PK-12 Administration. She also served as an adjunct professor at Trident Technical College for mathematics.

Richard Gordon

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

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.