Charleston County School District has suffered a great deal of volatility in leadership, hiring their fourth superintendent in two years. New hire Anita Huggins looks to rewrite that narrative. In January, CCSD’s board offered Huggins, acting superintendent at the time, the position permanently. After a week of consideration, she accepted and signed a three-year contract paying $275,000 annually.
Huggins’ hiring came on the heels of a mutual decision to part ways with former Superintendent Dr. Eric Gallien, who had served CCSD for just four months. After being accused of creating a hostile work environment, an investigation found Gallien not responsible. CCSD’s board was scrutinized by the public for a lack of transparency in how the school board handled the investigation, along with allegations that racism played a role in the board’s decision making.
“I am not naive to the gravity of the public and board’s discussion surrounding my appointment,” Huggins said. “In fact, quite the opposite is true; I take very seriously the community conversation about racism and the wider discussion about how our system can perpetuate distrust.”
Huggins, a native South Carolinian from the countryside of Loris, hails from a family of educators and has served CCSD for nearly three decades. Since 1998, she has assumed practically every position throughout her illustrious teaching career, including: English teacher, a master teacher, principal, interim chief transportation officer and deputy superintendent.
“I know our school district; I know its challenges and I know our potential,” Huggins said. “My first priorities will be to provide stability and direction as well as to rebuild trust that has been compromised. I will be consistent and transparent about what I prioritize and how I work with others to make decisions, always asking first ‘Will this benefit our children?’”
For more than 12 years, Huggins trained hundreds of teachers and administrators from CCSD’s schools on how to plan for instruction effectively, deliver instruction and develop conducive environments for learners as the executive director of educator effectiveness. In that role, Huggins was instrumental in developing district-wide systems for teacher development, support and recognition.
“I know what has worked, what hasn’t worked, and I’m determined to not repeat some of the mistakes that we’ve made in the past and that we’ve learned from in the past,” Huggins said.
Over the next three years, Huggins is committed to three priorities: building upon the success of her predecessors, supporting classrooms and teachers and streamlining school-based supports for teachers and students.
“Simply put, our focus must be the classroom,” Huggins added. “Student outcomes will improve when we have a highly qualified teacher in every classroom who is adequately supported and when we make our number one priority resourcing schools. It will be my expectation that every leader on our team communicates this same message and works to listen to, respond to and support our great teachers and school-based leaders.”
Other main objectives of Huggins are literacy focus, access to gateway courses and equitably funding schools by building a budget that’s in line with student outcomes. Huggins played an instrumental role in CCSD’s initiative Vision 2027 – the goal of all students to read at grade level by fifth grade by spring 2027.
“I got into this profession to serve children,” said Huggins, who admitted that she never aspired to become superintendent. Now that she finds herself in this position after paying her dues, she is ready to lead. First and foremost, she’s honored and humbled.
Huggins’ mother, who was a teacher and her biggest mentor growing up, gave her a piece of advice that has stuck with her throughout her entire teaching career: “Do everything with a glad-given heart.”
“I feel as passionate about children and serving them as I was when I first started nearly three decades ago,” Huggins added. “I’ve fallen in love with the people here, the diversity, the community here and CCSD.”
Ultimately, Huggins knows that the academic fate of the 50,000 students across Charleston County rests squarely on her shoulders. She embraces the challenge, the learning curves and the responsibilities that come along with being at the helm of CCSD.
By Zach Giroux
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