A graphic shows the new leadership positions of district personnel Dr. Donna Elder, Dr. Kena Worthy and Jami Washington. The CCSD announced the separation of the Academic and Student Support Division at its Aug. 13 Board of Education meeting and the resulting appointments of Elder as the Assistant Superintendent of Academics, Worthy as the Assistant Superintendent of Student and Family Support and Washington as the Director of Federal Programs. “This shift strengthens our ability to serve students and families. By establishing two distinct divisions: Academics led by Dr. Donna Elder and Student & Family Supports led by Dr. Kena Worthy, we are creating the clarity, focus, and leadership capacity needed to accelerate learning and remove barriers for every child,” CCSD Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott said. Photos courtesy of the CCSD, graphic by Lea D’Angelo
The Clarke County School District announced the separation of the Academic and Student Support Division into two divisions and the subsequent appointments of Dr. Donna Elder, Dr. Kena Worthy and Jami Washington into new positions.
The 2026-27 school year kicked off with a slew of leadership shifts in the Clarke County School District, namely the recent split of the Academic and Student Support Division into two entities, resulting in three leadership appointments of CCSD employees.
CCSD Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott says the change, which was announced at the CCSD August Board of Education meeting on Aug. 14, was implemented in order to better serve the families, staff and students the district serves by creating two separate areas of Academics and Family Supports.
“We are creating the clarity, focus, and leadership capacity needed to accelerate learning and remove barriers for every child,” Scott said. “Instruction and wraparound supports are both essential, and each deserves dedicated, expert leadership. This structure ensures we can raise the bar academically while also meeting the whole needs of our students and families with excellence.”
Elder served as the interim Deputy Superintendent of Academic and Student Support during the 2025-26 school year and was appointed Assistant Superintendent of Academics. In her role, she will oversee the Office of Teaching and Learning, Department of Exceptional Programs, Department of Innovation, Strategy and Governance and Department of Federal Programs.
“I am honored to continue serving the students, families, and educators of Clarke County in this new role,” Elder stated in an Aug. 14 CCSD press release. “Together, we will build on the strong work already underway across the district to elevate teaching and learning, support academic excellence, and create opportunities for every student to thrive.”
“We are creating the clarity, focus, and leadership capacity needed to accelerate learning and remove barriers for every child.”
— Dr. Jennifer Scott,
CCSD Superintendent
Worthy, the former Executive Director of Leadership Development, will step into the position of Assistant Superintendent of Student and Family Support. Her new role includes overseeing behavioral and social-emotional learning support services, such as social work, school counseling and nursing.
“I am excited to continue my service to the Clarke County School District in this role,” Worthy stated in the press release. “I look forward to expanding the reach of this amazing division through continued growth of knowledge, collaboration with other divisions, and partnerships within our community that will elevate the support for students and families in CCSD.”
Former Department of Federal Programs member Jami Washington has stepped into the role of Director of Federal Programs, which ensures the district and schools within it have the resources they need to meet federal grant requirements, such as Title I. Clarke Central High School Associate Principal Dr. Summer Smith has seen the impact the roles Washington, Elder and Worthy now occupy and recognized the importance of the school-district partnership.
“(As the CCHS Administrative Team,) we try to utilize district personnel to help us. The superintendent has a mission and vision for the district. That partnership (with the CCSD is there) to try to help make the best decisions in our schools, so that our students are successful and well taken care of, and the teachers as well,” Smith said. “So, having a good working relationship is important, so that when we need support, there’s a direct way to ask for it.”
