Bill Briggman, chief human resources officer for the Charleston County School District in South Carolina, believes the math is simple: Teachers who can comfortably live where they want and afford their bills will have more mental and emotional energy to dedicate to improving the lives of their students. Briggman has earned a reputation for tackling staffing shortages head-on with innovative strategies and has played a key role in transforming teacher pay in Charleston County.

As a result, he was one of two big-city school educators recently featured in the 2025 class of Education Week’s Leaders to Learn From, which recognizes excellence in school district leadership.

During his tenure, the Teacher Compensation Task Force was created, empowering teachers to speak directly to the school board about their personal financial challenges. Their advocacy quickly produced results—starting teacher pay in the district rose from just under $40,000 in 2019 to nearly $64,000 today, with veteran teachers seeing similar gains. The district now leads the state in both starting and average teacher salaries.

Briggman’s efforts have not only improved teacher retention and recruitment but also strengthened overall morale within the district’s 50,000-student system.

His journey with the Charleston school system began in 1999 when he started as a school counselor before transitioning to the district’s Division of Human Resources in 2004. His persistence in advocating for higher teacher pay became a hallmark of his leadership. Even after facing resistance from board members, he remained committed to the cause.

“It is an honor and incredibly flattering to have been selected as a Leader to Learn From for 2025,” Briggman said in a press release. “Learning that a district teacher nominated me makes this recognition even more special.”

Briggman’s recognition is especially notable as he is the first human resources executive to be nominated by a teacher for this honor in the 12-year history of Leaders to Learn From.

Meanwhile, Miranda Scully has been redefining family engagement in Kentucky’s Fayette County Public Schools since 2016. As the district’s Director of Family and Community Engagement, Scully has developed a systemic, research-based approach to engaging families, ensuring that parents and guardians are equipped to support their children's academic and social-emotional development.

Scully’s work focuses on building a network of trained educators and administrators dedicated to family outreach. Through her leadership, the 42,000-student district now has 72 staff members—including teachers, counselors, and administrators—who serve as family and community engagement champions at their respective schools.

Her initiatives have included providing free haircuts for students through local barbers, hosting information sessions in multiple languages for immigrant families, and offering training for teachers on active listening and cultural competency. Scully’s team also operates the Family Connection Center, which provides resources like ESL classes, college preparation workshops, and budgeting guidance for families.

“It’s not just a one-off. It’s not just a program,” Scully said in an EdWeek article. “Family engagement has to be embedded, just like curriculum and instruction.”