The Aiken County Board of Education has approved the appointment of Dr. Phyllis Gamble as the District’s new Chief Officer of Administration and Human Resources.
“Dr. Gamble is a respected leader who has consistently demonstrated a commitment to serving others, developing strong teams, and supporting student success,” said Dr. Corey Murphy, Superintendent of Aiken County Public School District. “Her experience as a teacher, principal, district administrator, and military leader has prepared her well for this role. I am confident she will continue to strengthen our organization by investing in the people who make our schools successful.”
Dr. Gamble brings more than two decades of experience in education, leadership, and public service to the role. In her new position, she will oversee the District’s Human Resources and Administration departments, leading efforts related to employee recruitment, retention, professional growth, personnel services, leadership development, communications, community engagement, and organizational operations that support the District’s more than 3,000 employees and nearly 24,000 students.
A veteran educator and military veteran, Dr. Gamble began her career as a middle school teacher in Fayetteville, NC. After relocating to Aiken County, she served as a special education teacher, assistant principal, and ultimately principal at North Augusta Middle School. Since 2018, she has served as the District’s Assistant Superintendent of Middle Schools. In this executive role, she provides leadership, support, and supervision to middle school principals while driving academic achievement, school improvement, and leadership development district-wide. Prior to her career in education, Dr. Gamble served seven years on active duty with the United States Army. She later transitioned to the U.S. Army Reserves, completing over 20 years of total military service, which included an overseas deployment to Afghanistan.
Under Dr. Gamble’s leadership, the District’s middle schools implemented several key initiatives to improve student outcomes and standardize excellence across schools. Notably, she expanded the AVID program to broaden access to rigorous coursework and college readiness to help prepare all students for success beyond high school graduation. She also led efforts to establish consistent grading practices across middle schools, restructure the District’s e-learning model, and strengthen core instruction by expanding English Language Arts and mathematics learning blocks. Together, these efforts contributed to improved academic performance and enhanced learning opportunities for middle school students district-wide.
Dr. Gamble also played a pivotal leadership role in the planning and successful opening of Highland Springs Middle School, establishing a strong foundation for the District’s newest middle school while supporting students, staff, and families through the transition.
While her career has been rooted in supporting student achievement, her success is ultimately built on a talent for developing strong leaders, cultivating effective teams, and building organizational systems that empower employees to thrive. These exact strengths uniquely position her to lead and support the critical work of the District’s Human Resources, Administration, Communications, and Community Engagement departments.
“What has always motivated me is the opportunity to serve and support others,” said Dr. Gamble. “Whether working with students, teachers, principals, or district staff, I believe leadership is about helping people succeed. I am honored by the trust placed in me and look forward to working alongside our Human Resources, Administration, Communications, and Community Engagement teams as we continue building a culture where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to do their best work on behalf of our students.”
Dr. Gamble holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Special Education Certification from the University of South Carolina (Aiken) a Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership from Augusta State University, and a doctorate in Educational Innovation from Augusta University.
Throughout her career, Dr. Gamble has embraced a servant leadership philosophy centered on supporting others and removing barriers to success.
"Great organizations are built by great people,” Dr. Gamble said. “My focus will be on ensuring our employees have the resources, support, and opportunities they need to thrive so that together we can continue providing exceptional experiences for the students and families we serve.”
The appointment follows Board approval by the Aiken County Board of Education during a special called meeting on June 2. The public announcement was made on June 3 following meetings with district leaders and employees directly affected by the transition.