Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Dereck Rhoads holds two master degrees and a doctorate in educational administration, policy and leadership from Seton Hall University. As Chief Instructional Officer for Beaufort County School District (22,000 students), Dr. Rhoads is responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of all teaching and learning programs and operations for BCSD. Dr. Rhoads has served as a Board Member for the South Carolina Association of School Administrators Instructional Leadership Division, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry, South Carolina Youth Leadership Conference, South Carolina Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the Editorial Review Board for the American Association of School Administrators’ Journal of Scholarship & Practice. Prior to serving as CIO, Dr. Rhoads led three schools as a principal including two different American-International schools. Dr. Rhoads developed and runs a Leadership Institute for aspiring school principals and serves as a consultant in the area of school improvement and leadership development. Dereck’s proven track record of demonstrated school and district improvement is built on a “what’s best for students” approach.