Carlita KingLeader Coach
Carlita is a seasoned Director and Leader Coach with over 30 years of deep expertise in fostering positive, impactful qualities within K-12 public schools. She excels in rural, diverse, and high-needs environments, where she champions the creation of psychologically safe environments. By embracing differences, she drives systemic and continuous improvement.

 

About Carlita

Dr. Carlita King has enjoyed a distinguished career in education, leaving a lasting impact through her diverse roles as an English teacher, cheerleader coach, team leader, curriculum coordinator, assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent. Her leadership has been instrumental in building strong community partnerships and collaborating with leaders and industry agencies, guiding school districts through multiple accreditation reviews. Her work has earned her local, state, and national recognition, including being featured in a Peabody Award-winning documentary, “180 Days: Hartsville,” by PBS and SC ETV. Dr. King is also a sought-after expert, sharing her insights on state and national panels with principals and district-level administrators.

She has a passion for providing “out of the box” opportunities with high expectations in areas that have an established norm of accepting failure or mediocrity. She aims to serve others as an educational merchant of hope.

Throughout her career, Carlita has achieved significant milestones:

  • As Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment at Darlington County School District, Carlita and her team swiftly transitioned the entire district to virtual learning at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic—a feat accomplished in just weeks, despite the absence of prior systemic structures.
  • Carlita successfully led the district through the accreditation processes with AdvancED in March 2019 and Cognia in April 2024, facilitating comprehensive reviews and gathering necessary artifacts to secure districtwide and school-specific accreditations.
  • In her role as Assistant Superintendent, Carlita supervised over 150 instructional staff members, including principals and instructional coaches. She oversaw the creation and implementation of district-wide curriculum and pacing guides, as well as assessments for more than 700 certified K-12 teachers. Additionally, she conducted needs assessments, analyzed data, and developed professional development plans for over 800 instructional staff members, ensuring the continual effectiveness and enhancement of educational programs.

 

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • Change Management and Leadership
  • Organizational Design and Alignment
  • Cultural Change
  • Engagement
  • Organizational Transformation
  • Strategy and Innovation

INDUSTRIES

  • K12 Education

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS

  • Ed.D., Clemson University
  • Ed.S., Clemson University
  • M.Ed., University of South Carolina
  • BA, South Carolina State University

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