Interim deputy superintendent for Athens public schools announced

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The following was released today by the Clarke County School District:

Incoming Clarke County School District Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott

today announced the appointment of Dr. Donna Elder as Interim Deputy Superintendent of Academics and Student Support for the 2025-26 school year. The appointment is effective July 1. Dr. Scott, who has held the position of Deputy Superintendent of Academics and Student Support since 2023, will become Interim Superintendent upon the retirement of outgoing Superintendent Dr. Robbie Hooker.

In this role, Dr. Elder will oversee all departments that make up the Academics and Student and Family

Support subdivisions and will have direct oversight of the district’s content and curriculum coordinators.

“Dr. Elder has deep roots in the Clarke County School District. WIth those roots come a deep commitment to moving our schools and students forward,” said Dr. Scott. “I am confident in her ability to

continue the work necessary to move the district forward in our journey towards excellence.”

Dr. Elder has been a member of the CCSD team since 2001 and has served as the district’s Executive

Director of Federal Programs since January 2022. Prior to joining the District Office, she had been

principal of Winterville Elementary School since 2016. Dr. Elder began her work in CCSD as a special

education teacher and team leader at Barnett Shoals Elementary. From there she advanced to special

education coordinator for the district and assistant principal at Timothy Road and Cleveland Road

elementary schools.

Prior to her time with CCSD, Dr. Elder was a special education teacher in Tennessee and marketing

education teacher in Aiken, South Carolina. Dr. Elder holds a bachelor’s degree in Science Education

and master’s in Adult Education from the University of Georgia and earned her doctorate in School

Improvement and Educational Leadership from the University of West Georgia. She is also a CCSD

alumna, having attended Barnett Shoals Elementary and Hilsman Middle before graduating from Cedar

Shoals High School.

“I am incredibly honored and humbled to serve as the Interim Deputy Superintendent of the Clarke

County School District—a district that shaped me as both a student and an educator,

” said Dr. Elder.

“As

Interim Deputy Superintendent, I remain deeply committed to our district’s strategic priorities—ensuring

thriving students, optimizing talent, and building a connected culture. I believe in the brilliance of our

children, the strength of our educators, and the power of community.”

As Dr. Elder begins her new role, Federal Programs Coordinator Jami Washington-Barnett will assume

all department leadership responsibilities previously handled by Dr. Elder. In addition to the Deputy

Superintendent appointment, Dr. Scott also announced that Jennifer Martin will transition from Executive Director of Teaching and Learning to Executive Director of Leadership Development and will be supervisor to principals at CCSD high schools and directors of the district’s other secondary programs.

Executive directors of Leadership Development Dr. Neill Crosslin and Dr. Kena Worthy will continue to

supervise the district’s elementary and middle school principals.