News

Charleston County School District (CCSD) is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Timisha "TBJ" Barnes-Jones as its new Associate Superintendent of Organizational Development and Innovation, adding one of the nation's most accomplished and innovative educational leaders to its leadership team.

A transformational leader with more than two decades of experience, Dr. Barnes-Jones has earned a national reputation for developing exceptional leaders, transforming schools, strengthening organizational culture, and driving measurable improvements in student achievement. She joins CCSD from Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, where she most recently served as Chief of Schools, providing executive leadership for 80 schools, four area superintendents, and 80 principals while overseeing leadership development, school improvement, districtwide instructional excellence and supporting district strategic planning.

Her results speak for themselves.  Under Dr. Barnes-Jones' leadership during the 2024-25 school year, 12 schools improved their accountability letter grades, seven schools were removed from the state's low-performing list, and the district significantly expanded leadership development opportunities for principals and district leaders. She established a comprehensive accountability system centered on coaching, observations, goal setting, and continuous feedback that strengthened leadership performance across the organization.

Throughout her career, Dr. Barnes-Jones has demonstrated that extraordinary schools are built by extraordinary leaders. She spearheaded a nationally recognized principal pipeline initiative that resulted in 92% of newly hired school leaders being developed internally, expanded Public Impact’s nationally recognized Opportunity CultureⓇ  initiative from 11 schools to more than 30 schools, impacting more than 10,000 students and 442 teachers, managed multimillion-dollar budgets, served as fiscal agent for an $8 million Wallace Foundation leadership grant, redesigned district coaching and professional learning systems, and strategically leveraged grant funding to expand leadership development while preserving operating dollars for personnel and classroom instruction.

Before serving as Chief of Schools, Dr. Barnes-Jones held leadership roles as Assistant Superintendent of Talent Development and School Transformation, Area Superintendent, Director of School Improvement, and an award-winning principal. As principal of West Charlotte High School, she increased the school's four-year graduation rate by 34 percentage points, dramatically expanded Advanced Placement participation, launched career academies, and significantly improved students' college and career readiness.

Her influence extends well beyond a single school district. As a National Principal Advisor for Relay Graduate School of Education, Dr. Barnes-Jones coached principals and principal supervisors from across the country, helping educational leaders strengthen school culture, instructional leadership, and organizational effectiveness. Dr. Barnes-Jones has been recognized as the North Carolina Wells Fargo Principal of the Year (Southwest Region) and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Principal of the Year, honors that reflect her unwavering commitment to educational excellence and transformational leadership.

Her journey to educational leadership is as inspiring as her accomplishments. A graduate of Davidson College with a degree in music, Dr. Barnes-Jones initially pursued a professional singing career, earning a full scholarship to the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and becoming an accomplished jazz vocalist. She won two first-place awards on the nationally televised Showtime at the Apollo and was also featured in The Color Purple before discovering her true calling in education. Colleagues affectionately know her as the "Singing Principal," a reflection of her belief that joy, relationships, and culture are powerful catalysts for learning, leadership, and organizational excellence.

In her new role, Dr. Barnes-Jones will lead CCSD's efforts to strengthen organizational effectiveness, cultivate leadership at every level, advance innovation, and develop systems that support continuous improvement throughout the district.

"Dr. TBJ is exactly the kind of bold, visionary leader CCSD needs as we continue building a culture of excellence, innovation, and possibility," said Superintendent Anita Huggins. "She is a proven transformer of schools, a builder of leaders, and a champion for students. Throughout her career, she has consistently delivered measurable results while investing deeply in people. Her passion, authenticity, and relentless pursuit of excellence are contagious. Dr. TBJ understands that organizational excellence begins with developing great leaders, cultivating strong teams, and creating systems that allow everyone to thrive. I am delighted to welcome her to Team CCSD, and I have no doubt that her leadership will accelerate our work and leave a lasting legacy for our students, employees, and community."

Dr. Barnes-Jones earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Gardner-Webb University, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Supervision from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Davidson College. She remains actively engaged in national leadership organizations, superintendent development initiatives, and professional learning networks dedicated to advancing public education.

As CCSD continues to advance its strategic priorities, Dr. Barnes-Jones' appointment reflects the district's unwavering commitment to recruiting and developing exceptional talent, fostering innovation, and building leadership capacity across the organization. Her arrival marks another significant step toward ensuring every employee is empowered, every leader is equipped to succeed, and every student has access to the world-class education they deserve.