The Clarke County School District announced that Brannon F. Gaskins will join its administrative team as Chief Academic Officer and Dexter Fisher will join as Executive Director of District Services.  

“The Clarke County School District is incredibly fortunate to have these two experienced and talented gentlemen join our administrative team,” said Dr. Demond Means, Superintendent of Clarke County Schools.  “As Chief Academic Officer and Executive Director of District Services, their work will touch all of our students. I am confident that Mr. Gaskins and Mr. Fisher will contribute greatly toward ensuring the academic growth and achievement of every student, in every school.”

Chief Academic Officer, Brannon Gaskins, comes to CCSD with 16 years of successful district, school-based, and classroom experience.  His most recent position was with the Fulton County School District in Atlanta, Georgia, serving as Area Executive Director.

As Area Executive Director, Mr. Gaskins oversaw the instructional leadership and school operations of 12 elementary schools.  He also led the District’s Achievement Zone (AZ). The AZ is the feeder pattern of 10 schools (one high school, two middle schools, and seven elementary schools) that led the district’s transformation work to foster increased academic outcomes for students and their communities.  Under Mr. Gaskins’ leadership, all schools experienced improved academic outcomes for students, decreases in student discipline referrals, increased retention in teaching staff, and increased faith based and community partnerships at all schools.

Prior to his position at the administrative office, Mr. Gaskins was a principal and assistant principal, worked in the district’s Title I department, and served as an elementary and middle school teacher.   He also serves as a national presenter and trains principal supervisors. His most recent work includes presenting at the University of Virginia’s Partners and Leaders in Education Shepard Summit and the South Region Education Boards annual education conference.

Mr. Gaskins has earned three degrees:  a bachelor’s degree in middle grades education from Tennessee State University, a master’s degree in reading, language, and literacy from Georgia State University, and a specialist degree in educational leadership. Mr. Gaskins is currently a doctoral candidate at Kennesaw State University with an anticipated graduation of December 2019.

Executive Director of District Services, Dexter Fisher comes to CCSD after 31 years at the University of Georgia, where he served as Director of Facilities Management. His duties there included supervision of more than 500 employees and a fleet of 1300 vehicles.  Mr. Fisher holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Mars Hill University, where he attended on a football scholarship, and a MBA with a concentration on leadership and finance from Piedmont College.

As an active member of the Athens community, Mr. Fisher serves on the Athens Piedmont Hospital Board of Trustees and on the Athens Piedmont Hospital Authority.  He also serves on the Athens Community Foundation Board, Athens Tech Business School College Advisory Board, Athens Rotary Club, and is past chairperson of the Athens Community Career Academy. In 2018, Mr. Fisher was given the Changing the Picture for Athens Children award  by Family Connections-Communities in Schools.