Aiken County Public School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Charlene Heard as Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools. In this role, Heard will join Eric Jeffcoat in providing leadership, support, and supervision for the District’s elementary schools.
Heard succeeds the late Julie Revelle, whose legacy of leadership and service continues to have a lasting impact across the district.
“Dr. Heard is an exceptional instructional leader who has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to student achievement, staff development, and school improvement,” said Superintendent Dr. Corey Murphy. “Her passion for elementary education, strong relationships with students and staff, and proven record of success make her the right person to help lead and support our elementary schools. While no one can replace Julie Revelle, I know Dr. Heard will honor that legacy through her service to children and schools.”
Heard currently serves as principal of Warrenville Elementary School, a position she has held since 2015. Under her leadership, Warrenville Elementary experienced significant academic growth, including increasing SC READY English Language Arts performance from 36.5% in 2022 to 59.8% in 2025 and Mathematics performance from 34.6% to 47.1% during the same period. The school also maintained an “Excellent” school climate rating from 2022 through 2025 and achieved its highest overall report card rating of “Good” during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years.
Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her leadership and dedication to public education. Most recently, Heard was named Aiken County Public School District’s 2026-27 Principal of the Year and was also selected as the 2026 South Carolina Alliance of Black School Educators (SCABSE) Elementary Principal of the Year. She additionally received the Superintendent’s Excellence Award for Data-Driven Excellence in 2025.
Heard has served in numerous district leadership roles, including co-facilitator for the District Strategic Plan’s Learning Experiences focus area and mentor for first-year and new-to-district principals. She has also contributed to district committees supporting literacy, instructional frameworks, MTSS, gifted education, autism services, and school culture initiatives.
Prior to becoming principal at Warrenville Elementary, she served as assistant principal at Chukker Creek Elementary School and spent nearly a decade as a classroom teacher and instructional technology coach in Lexington School District Four.
A proud product of Aiken County Public Schools, Heard attended Area Four (Wagener/Ridge Spring-area) schools before graduating from the University of South Carolina Aiken with a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education. She later earned a Master of Education in Divergent Learning from Columbia College, an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Administration from South Carolina State University and recently completed her Doctorate in Educational Administration at South Carolina State University.
“Stepping into the role of Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools is both an exciting and humbling opportunity for me personally and professionally,” she shared. “After serving as a principal for 11 years, this transition represents growth, reflection, and a continued commitment to serving students, families, and educators at a broader level.”
Heard said she is especially excited about the opportunity to collaborate with principals and teachers across the district, strengthen instructional practices, and continue advocating for students.
“Elementary education lays the foundation for a child’s future, and I am honored to have the opportunity to help shape systems and supports that positively impact students, families, and educators on a larger scale,” she said.
Reflecting on her leadership journey, Heard shared that her experiences as a teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal, and principal have reinforced the importance of servant leadership, collaboration, and maintaining a student-centered focus in every decision.
“I was drawn to this role because of my passion for elementary education and my desire to continue making a meaningful impact beyond one school community,” she said. “While transitioning from the principalship is bittersweet, I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the schools and communities that have become such an important part of my life and professional journey.”
Heard will officially begin her new role this summer.