During its meeting on Thursday, August 13, the Clarke County Board of Education formally approved three leadership appointments by Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott that took effect at the start of this fiscal year in July.
With the split of the former Academic and Student Support Division into two separate divisions, Dr. Donna Elder has been appointed as Assistant Superintendent of Academics after serving as Interim Deputy Superintendent of Academic and Student Support during the 2025-26 school year. In her new role, Dr. Elder will have a full focus on lifting CCSD’s academic programs and increasing teaching and learning best practices to improve student outcomes. The Academics Division includes the Office of Teaching and Learning, professional learning and leadership development, and the departments of Exceptional Programs (Special Education, Gifted and Advanced content, and English to Speakers of other Languages programming), Federal Programs, and Innovation, Strategy, and Governance. Prior to her role as Interim Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Elder served as the district’s Executive Director of Federal Programs, work that Jami Washington will now oversee as Director of Federal Programs.
Dr. Kena Worthy, the district’s new Assistant Superintendent of Student and Family Support, will oversee the Student and Family Support Division, which includes school counseling, nursing, psychology, social work, and other behavioral and social-emotional learning support services. Dr. Worthy had served as one of the district’s Executive Directors of Leadership Development since 2021.
About Donna Elder
A CCSD alumna and graduate of Cedar Shoals High School, Dr. Elder has been a member of the CCSD team since 2001. Prior to joining the District Office as Executive Director of Federal Programs in 2022, 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 and from there advanced to special education coordinator for the district and assistant principal at Timothy Road and Cleveland Road elementary schools before moving to Winterville Elementary. She also has previous teaching experience in Tennessee and 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.
"I am honored to continue serving the students, families, and educators of Clarke County in this new role,” said Dr. Elder. “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."
About Kena Worthy
Dr. Worthy is a proud native Athenian and Clarke Central High School graduate with nearly three decades of public education service. She started professionally with CCSD in 1997 and taught in the classroom for 16 years before advancing into school administration, first as Assistant Principal and then Principal of Timothy Road Elementary School. In her role as an Executive Director of Leadership Development with the district, she oversaw and provided direct leadership support for principals at several elementary, middle, and high schools.
Dr. Worthy holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Mercer University, a master’s in Early Childhood Education from Central Michigan University, and her educational specialist and doctorate degrees in Educational Leadership from Georgia State University.
“I am excited to continue my service to the Clarke County School District in this role,” said Dr. Worthy. “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.”
About Jami Washington
Ms. Washington has 13 years of service with CCSD and brings more than 20 years of experience in education, program administration, grant management, and community engagement. She began her career in CCSD as a kindergarten teacher at Fowler Drive Elementary School and taught in elementary grade levels for 12 years before moving into school development and community engagement. She rejoined CCSD in 2021 as part of the Department of Federal Programs and, in her role with the department, has overseen the management of grant programs, monitored budgets and program performance, supported regulatory compliance, and provided technical assistance to schools.
Ms. Washington holds an education specialist degree in Educational Technology, a master’s in Elementary Reading and Literacy Instruction, and a bachelor’s in Elementary Education and Studio Art.