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Superintendent of Schools Biography

Dr. Nancy J. McGinley

Dr. Nancy J. McGinley was appointed Superintendent of the Charleston County School District (CCSD) in April 2007. She oversees a system that includes over 45,000 students, 80 schools, numerous specialized programs, and 5,500 employees.

Results

In April 2007, Dr. Nancy McGinley was appointed superintendent of the Charleston County School District (CCSD), where she currently oversees 45,000 students in 80 schools and programs.  Under Dr. McGinley’s leadership—and on the strength of her Charleston Achieving Excellence strategic plan—CCSD’s students have made significant improvement.

This year,

• 50% of CCSD students attend “Excellent” schools—nearly twice the state average;
• CCSD earned its best state report card on record, with an “Excellent” growth rating and “Good” absolute rating;
• CCSD seniors earned $48 million in scholarships—their highest earnings on record; and
• CCSD’s graduation rate jumped five points, from 67% to 72%.

Dr. McGinley has generated strong support for Charleston County’s public schools and the students they serve.  Following nearly ten years of decline, student enrollment has now increased for four straight years.  Inspired by Dr. McGinley’s choice plan, CCSD has dramatically expanded school choice, nearly doubling its number of charter, magnet, and special-theme schools and programs over the last five years.  And the district’s new capital plan—modernizing classrooms and pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy—was supported 2-to-1 by the taxpayers of Charleston County.   

Dr. McGinley’s reform efforts center on four strategic priorities:  Literacy-Based Learning, Educator Effectiveness, Innovative Schools & Systems, and Partnerships.  This year, under Dr. McGinley’s leadership, CCSD will launch a new strategic plan—“Charleston Achieving Excellence: Vision 2016”—which will build on these priorities; strengthen the district’s emphasis on literacy improvement and teacher effectiveness; restructure the district to better support schools and students; and create bold annual performance targets for all students.  

Previously, McGinley served as chief academic officer for CCSD. Prior to this position, she was the chief executive officer of the Philadelphia Education Fund, an independent, non-profit affiliate of the national Public Education Network dedicated to improving educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth.  Prior to joining the Fund, McGinley was director for leadership initiatives at Greater Philadelphia First, an organization focused on improving education and economic opportunities in the region. Previous positions include teacher, central office administrator in The School District of Philadelphia, principal of Abington Junior High School, and principal of Philadelphia's Pepper Middle School. McGinley is a frequent presenter at state and national conferences, including the American Education Research Association, the National Middle School Association, the Education Trust and the Public Education Network. She has a master's degree in education administration as well as a doctorate in educational leadership from Temple University, and she earned her Superintendent’s Letter from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to her degree programs, McGinley was an International Fellow in the Eisenhower Leadership Exchange Program and has worked as an adjunct college professor in the graduate schools of Arcadia University, Drexel University, St. Joseph’s University, and The Citadel.  

Dr. McGinley, a Milken award winning educator, is the recipient of numerous awards.  She was honored with the Delta Sigma Theta South Atlantic Regional Conference Education Award (2011); was recognized by the Broad Center for overall achievement (The Broad Center Achievement Award (2010)), and was named the Government Official of the Year for South Carolina (2009).  

Charleston Achieving Excellence: A Bold Vision for Success and Reform

Dr. McGinley's visionary strategic plan, Charleston Achieving Excellence (CAE), centers the work of the district around three simple, but far-reaching goals: 1) elevate achievement overall; 2) close the achievement gap; and 3) raise the graduation rate. The plan, which builds on the solid academic foundation established while Dr. McGinley was the district’s Chief Academic Officer (CAO), emphasizes the core values of results, access, and partnerships. With these goals and values as a foundation, Dr. McGinley is transforming the culture of the district. Her mantra is three-fold:

1. The Victory is in the Classroom! Effective teachers matter more than anything else. Under Dr. McGinley’s leadership, teacher vacancies at the beginning of the school year—once numbering 120—were reduced to less than five. She launched a “Teacher of the Month” recognition program and meets regularly with teacher leaders from every school.
2. A quality principal is the cornerstone of an excellent school. Dr. McGinley often says, “There are no great schools without great principals.” As a former teacher and principal, she understands the critical link between effective teaching and school leadership. Great principals develop, motivate, and attract effective teachers. Ineffective principals have the opposite effect on teachers. Since she became CAO, over 70% of CCSD’s schools have changed principals.
3. Literacy is the foundation of all learning. All subjects were not created equal. Under Dr. McGinley’s leadership, all discretionary funds have been directed toward the improvement of literacy. Since 2007, the percentage of rising ninth graders reading at a fourth-grade level or below has been reduced by 8 points, from 20.9 to 12.9%.

Strategic Priorities: The 2011-2012 School Year

Dr. McGinley’s reform efforts center on four strategic priorities:  Literacy Improvement, Effective Teaching and Leadership, World-Class Schools & Systems, and Strategic Partnerships.  This year, under Dr. McGinley’s leadership, CCSD will launch a new strategic plan—“Charleston Achieving Excellence: Vision 2016”—which will build on these priorities; strengthen the district’s emphasis on literacy improvement and teacher effectiveness; restructure the district to better support schools and students; and create bold annual performance targets for all students.

Background

Previously, McGinley served as chief academic officer for CCSD. Prior to this position, she was the chief executive officer of the Philadelphia Education Fund, an independent, non-profit affiliate of the national Public Education Network dedicated to improving educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth.  Prior to joining the Fund, McGinley was director for leadership initiatives at Greater Philadelphia First, an organization focused on improving education and economic opportunities in the region. Previous positions include teacher, central office administrator in The School District of Philadelphia, principal of Abington Junior High School, and principal of Philadelphia's Pepper Middle School.

McGinley is a frequent presenter at state and national conferences, including the American Education Research Association, the National Middle School Association, the Education Trust and the Public Education Network. She has a master's degree in education administration; a doctorate in educational leadership from Temple University; and earned her Superintendent’s Letter from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to her degree programs, McGinley was an International Fellow in the Eisenhower Leadership Exchange Program and has worked as an adjunct college professor in the graduate schools of Arcadia University, Drexel University, St. Joseph’s University, and The Citadel.