In an unprecedented vote of confidence from Charleston County teachers, Charleston County School District (CCSD) Superintendent Anita Huggins has earned the highest superintendent leadership score in the 11-year history of the Charleston Teacher Alliance's (CTA) annual survey, becoming the first superintendent ever to receive a "Highly Effective" rating under the organization's numerical evaluation system.
Teachers rated Huggins 3.61 out of 4.0, surpassing last year's record-setting score of 3.48 and marking the first time a superintendent has crossed the CTA's threshold for a Highly Effective rating. The survey also found improvement in every leadership category measured. In the history of the CTA's numerical superintendent evaluations, no superintendent has ever received a higher score.
"This year's results reflect a significant milestone," said Charleston Teacher Alliance Executive Director Jody Stallings. "Teachers clearly recognized meaningful progress in the superintendent's leadership. Achieving the first Highly Effective rating, and the highest numerical score we've recorded in eleven years of conducting this survey, is a noteworthy accomplishment and represents a strong vote of confidence from Charleston County's educators."
"This recognition is especially meaningful because it comes from the professionals who dedicate their lives to serving children every single day," Huggins said. "I have always believed teachers deserve leaders who listen, communicate honestly, and work tirelessly to remove barriers so they can focus on teaching and learning. While there is still important work ahead, I am deeply grateful for the trust our teachers have placed in our leadership team."
For Huggins, the recognition represents a full-circle moment. She began her career as an English teacher at Fort Johnson Middle School and, over nearly three decades, has served the Charleston County School District as a master teacher, teacher effectiveness leader, principal, executive director, deputy superintendent, and now superintendent. Throughout every chapter of her career, one identity has remained constant, that of a teacher.
Huggins credits her mother with instilling in her a profound respect for education, public service, and the belief that great teachers change lives. Those lessons became the foundation for a career dedicated to supporting educators and ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed.
"I am truly humbled by this honor," Huggins said. "Teachers have the hardest job in our district. Every day they carry the enormous responsibility of educating, encouraging, protecting, and inspiring our students, often while overcoming challenges most people never see. I never forget that I was one of them, and I never will; I am honored to always be a teacher. That identity shapes every decision I make because when we make life better for teachers, we make life better for students."
The survey reflects growing confidence in district leadership. Teachers rated Huggins highest for communicating effectively with families and stakeholders, demonstrating effective leadership, making educational decisions that give students the best opportunity to succeed, valuing teachers, and seeking teacher input before making important decisions. Every one of those measures improved over the previous year.
The report's narrative comments tell the story behind the numbers. Teachers frequently praised stronger communication, increased visibility in schools, regular updates, teacher recognition efforts, and an administration that is more connected to classrooms and responsive to educators. Teachers also continued to identify student discipline, class size, attendance expectations, and workload as the district's greatest challenges, issues the administration has acknowledged and continues to prioritize in partnership with educators.
The survey also paints an encouraging picture of school leadership overall. Teachers recognized many examples of strong leadership across schools and district offices, highlighting leaders who foster positive school cultures, support educators, communicate clearly, and maintain high expectations. At the same time, respondents expressed a desire for continued focus on consistency, collaboration, and the conditions that allow teachers and students to thrive.
Together, the record-setting evaluation, the first-ever Highly Effective rating, and the thoughtful feedback provided by teachers underscore both the progress the district has made and its commitment to continued growth. District leaders say they will use the survey results to build on current successes, address remaining challenges, and continue working alongside educators to create the best possible learning environment for every student.