Chief Academic Officer Biography

Dr. J. Douglas Gepford

January 2009

Doug has had a long career in serving youth in the Charleston area. He began his professional career in North Charleston working as a school psychologist and special educator. While in this role, he worked in Elementary, Middle and High Schools. His interest in monitoring student progress moved him to return to school so that he could be a school based administrator.

He completed his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policies in 1996 and became the principal at J. Howard Berry Elementary. During his tenure there, the school received State and local recognition for academic progress each year. In addition, he piloted a model for instructional discipline at Berry where students were taught the behavior skills needed to succeed in class. As a result, student suspensions decreased to very low levels. In addition, Doug adopted the Accelerated Schools Model for school reform that was successful in providing a clear structure for decision making and had as its focus, using gifted and talented instructional practices for all children.

When Berry Elementary was slated to close to become the School of the Arts Magnet program, Doug was hired to be the principal at Sullivan’s Island Elementary. During his seven years at Sullivan’s Island, the school was recognized for academic excellence by the State each year. In addition, the school became part of the Accelerated Schools Project. As a result, operations within the school became transparent to all stake holders and parent satisfaction ratings of the school consistently ranked in the 95% or higher. In addition, while at Sullivan’s Island, Doug began a privately operated foundation call, “The Friends of Sullivan’s Island.” This group of parents, business partners and staff developed a fund-raising organization that supported the school’s vision for small class sizes, state of the art technology, and supplemental materials.

Subsequently, Doug served as the associate superintendent for Districts 3, 9, Ashley River Creative Arts School, St. Andrews School for Math and Science, and the Accelerated School Project schools for five years. During that time, he has initiated the Positive Behavior Supports program in 35 Charleston County Schools, developed a process for assessing and supporting instructional decision making called the CORE team process, and piloted a model for teams of central staff to support schools called the Coherence Team (now called Academic Support Teams). He also chartered a private foundation for youth on James, John’s and Wadmalaw Islands called, “Sea Islands Partners for Youth.”

Most recently, Doug was named Chief Academic Officer for the district. This role includes supervision of the associate superintendents, central support staff and academic programs in all 81 schools.

Doug is a Past President of the Mt. Pleasant Optimist Club and a Past Lt. Governor in South Carolina for Optimist International. The focus of Optimist International is supporting youth in the community.

Dr. J. Douglas Gepford
Chief Academic Officer
937-6413; 937-6410 (fax)
75 Calhoun Street
Charleston, SC 29401