News

Charleston County School District (CCSD) is launching a new initiative to bring central office employees closer to the students, teachers, and schools their work supports each day.

Approximately 400 central office employees, including Superintendent Anita Huggins and members of her Cabinet, will each serve four days during the 2026–2027 school year as substitute teachers in CCSD schools, employee daycare, and HeadStart. Participating employees will complete required training before receiving their first assignment.

“This is about staying connected to our students, teachers, and the work happening in our schools,” Huggins said. “Our central office staff is already excited about the opportunity to serve in classrooms and support our schools in a new way. It will give us a firsthand understanding of the opportunities and challenges our educators experience and help keep their needs at the center of our work. It is another way we can live out what it means to be Powered by Purpose.” 

“I wholeheartedly support this initiative. As a classroom teacher, I’ve always believed that the strongest decisions about schools are made when we stay close to the people inside them,” said Patrick Martin, CCSD 2026 Teacher of the Year.”There is something powerful about district leaders stepping into our classrooms, sitting with our students, and experiencing the work alongside us. To me, this is about more than providing substitute coverage; it’s about building relationships, understanding one another’s work, and reminding ourselves that no matter our role in CCSD, we are all here for the same reason: our students.”

By spending time in classrooms, central office employees will gain valuable insight into how district-level decisions, programs, and services affect students and school staff. The experience will also help strengthen relationships between schools and the central office and keep student and teacher needs at the center of the district’s work. The initiative will also provide additional classroom coverage and allow teachers to attend professional development, planning sessions, or address personal needs without disrupting student learning.

“This plan is another step demonstrating that CCSD intends to keep teaching, academics, and learning at the center of its work. When administrators lose touch with what is happening in classrooms, districts lose teachers, and students pay the price. You can't make good decisions about classrooms if you aren't willing to spend time in them. By placing central office employees in schools, Superintendent Huggins ensures that 75 Calhoun never loses sight of where the real work of learning occurs. Under Mrs. Huggins’ leadership, the central office is becoming a supportive extension of our schools and a true partner for teachers,” said Jody Stallings, Charleston Teacher Alliance. 

Assignments will be coordinated based on school needs, and employees will have an option to select assignments that align with their experience, training, or areas of expertise.

As an additional benefit, the initiative could reduce substitute costs. With approximately 400 employees serving four days each, central office staff could fill roughly 1,500 substitute assignments. Based on current daily substitute rates, the district estimates potential savings of approximately $250,000 during the school year.

The initiative reflects CCSD’s commitment to keeping students and schools at the center of every decision while strengthening connections across the district.