CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – After a recommendation from former Director of Schools Millard House in early June, the Clarksville-Montgomery County School Board unanimously appointed Angela Huff to be his replacement – at least in the interim.

Clarksville Now spoke with the new director about her prior experience, her decision to accept the appointment and her hopes for the school system in the coming years.

Chief of staff role

Huff was hired by House as chief of staff in July 2018. At the time, she worked as a special projects manager for Williamson County Schools in Franklin. Before that, she served as chief of staff at Cobb County Schools in Marietta, Georgia.

But what does the chief of staff in a school system do?

“I’ve worked with not just the cabinet members but department leads as well, with our senior leadership team and also some of the other staff: principals, assistant principals. Another part of that role as chief of staff is I also supervised the student services department, and in that department houses the enrollment center and also student records,” Huff said.

In addition to overseeing record management, the chief of staff manages School Board relations and provides resources board members might need in their decision-making processes.

“It’s kind of a hodgepodge of different responsibilities, but that position allowed me to pretty much have a footprint in everything that goes on with CMCSS,” Huff said.

Getting the gig

Huff told Clarksville Now she had no reservations about taking the job as interim. She had worked hand-in-hand with House.

“I just feel very fortunate that I had such a close working relationship with Mr. House that I was able to see day-in and day-out of the responsibilities that he had and what he was doing, so I wasn’t nervous,” Huff said of accepting the offer.

She isn’t pursuing the permanent position – she said she wants to provide the School Board flexibility in their search for a permanent director.

When asked what sets CMCSS apart, Huff said there’s never any shortage of innovation or passion in delivering the best education possible for students.

“CMCSS is the most innovative system that I have had the privilege of working for,” she said.

“When I’m talking to a principal, the students that they’re serving, the parents that they may be assisting with whatever, they’re just very passionate on that level. And when I’m talking with department heads, they’re looking at, ‘OK, how can we innovate this strategy? What else can we do to make this better for our students?'” Huff said.

She said this comes down to all of the programs offered, and district leaders are constantly looking for ways to expand that.

Challenges and goals

While House was the first Black director of schools, Huff is the first Black woman to lead the district.

Huff’s father, the Rev. William C. Dobbins, was a leader in the early civil rights movement. He led the 707-day long Pensacola lunch counter sit-in in Florida during the 1950s and 60s, which eventually led to the integration of Pensacola on March 12, 1962.

All of that makes her keenly aware of the national conversation going on regarding the teaching of race and history in schools.

“I’m very proud of the work my father was able to accomplish, and my mother; I’m very, very proud of that and that’s the true legacy for me. But in our world, in the school system and of course in CMCSS, we follow the Tennessee state standards,” Huff said. “Our goal, our mission, or our focus is to make sure we’re considering all students when we’re teaching our lessons.”

Acknowledging that gaps in access to resources and other educational benefits continue to exist across race, ethnicity and other socioeconomic factors, Chief Communications Officer Anthony Johnson said CMCSS’ focus has always been on closing those gaps and it will continue to be a priority.

“The conversation around the district around equity has been an ongoing conversation,” Johnson said. “We have a continuous improvement team, we’re meeting, we’re looking at best practices, data and resources. What we’re seeing is a lot of the gaps academically, we’re closing those gaps in our district.”

Huff said this is work she wants to continue pursuing in her new role.

“I want to continue to charge forward in making sure we can continue that path of success that we’ve been on,” Huff said. “I mean, we’re known statewide as well as nationally. I want that to continue, and I don’t have any intention of that going the other way.

“I am committed to making sure that I do the best job that I can do in leading this school system, and I feel as though I have a great team working alongside with me to be able to do that.”