ABOUT MEKA
Meka Childs is a devoted military wife, coach, mentor, and native South Carolinian. Meka is a former Richland County School District 2 middle school teacher, served Governor Mark Sanford as Senior Education Advisor, and recently resigned as South Carolina’s Deputy Superintendent of Education under General Mick Zais in order to seek the office of State Superintendent. Currently, Meka serves on the Board of Directors for the South Carolina After School Alliance and is a commissioner for the United Way Association of South Carolina.
After graduating from Airport High School in 1995, Meka attended Duke University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Public Policy focusing on state and federal agency management, economic development, and the economics of education.
Upon graduation, Meka spent several years formulating and implementing education policy at the local level for federal and local government agencies as well as nonprofit organizations in Washington D.C., North Carolina and South Carolina.
Returning to the Palmetto State in 2001, Meka began teaching in Richland County School District 2 at Dent Middle School. From 2005 to 2007, Meka served in the Policy Department of the Governor's Office as Education Advisor to Governor Mark Sanford. Upon leaving the Governor’s office, Meka entered the private sector working with business leaders and members of the South Carolina General Assembly to anticipate the impact of legislation on the State's business climate.
In 2011, Meka was appointed as the Deputy Superintendent for Policy and Research at the South Carolina Department of Education, reporting directly to General Mick Zais, Republican State Superintendent of Education. Most recently Meka served as the Deputy Superintendent over the Division of School Effectiveness. Serving in that capacity, Meka was charged with leading the agency’s efforts to work with schools and districts on educator professional development, educator evaluation, blended learning opportunities, licensure, and school choice options.
As a public servant, Meka has focused on ensuring that education policies are determined by parents, teachers, and local school districts and that the education provided in South Carolina not only encourages economic growth and business development within our state, but that it also provides every student, regardless of zip code, with the necessary tools to pursue whichever endeavors they choose. Meka will fight to personalize learning to the needs of each child, ensure that each student receives high quality instruction every day of every year, and reinvigorate community involvement in addressing the needs of children that cannot be addressed by schools alone.
Meka is a committed wife, a caring mother, and an upstanding member of the community. Meka is a member of Sandhills Community Church and continues to serve on various community boards. Meka resides along with her husband and their children in Richland County.
Meka Childs is a devoted military wife, coach, mentor, and native South Carolinian. Meka is a former Richland County School District 2 middle school teacher, served Governor Mark Sanford as Senior Education Advisor, and recently resigned as South Carolina’s Deputy Superintendent of Education under General Mick Zais in order to seek the office of State Superintendent. Currently, Meka serves on the Board of Directors for the South Carolina After School Alliance and is a commissioner for the United Way Association of South Carolina.
After graduating from Airport High School in 1995, Meka attended Duke University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Public Policy focusing on state and federal agency management, economic development, and the economics of education.
Upon graduation, Meka spent several years formulating and implementing education policy at the local level for federal and local government agencies as well as nonprofit organizations in Washington D.C., North Carolina and South Carolina.
Returning to the Palmetto State in 2001, Meka began teaching in Richland County School District 2 at Dent Middle School. From 2005 to 2007, Meka served in the Policy Department of the Governor's Office as Education Advisor to Governor Mark Sanford. Upon leaving the Governor’s office, Meka entered the private sector working with business leaders and members of the South Carolina General Assembly to anticipate the impact of legislation on the State's business climate.
In 2011, Meka was appointed as the Deputy Superintendent for Policy and Research at the South Carolina Department of Education, reporting directly to General Mick Zais, Republican State Superintendent of Education. Most recently Meka served as the Deputy Superintendent over the Division of School Effectiveness. Serving in that capacity, Meka was charged with leading the agency’s efforts to work with schools and districts on educator professional development, educator evaluation, blended learning opportunities, licensure, and school choice options.
As a public servant, Meka has focused on ensuring that education policies are determined by parents, teachers, and local school districts and that the education provided in South Carolina not only encourages economic growth and business development within our state, but that it also provides every student, regardless of zip code, with the necessary tools to pursue whichever endeavors they choose. Meka will fight to personalize learning to the needs of each child, ensure that each student receives high quality instruction every day of every year, and reinvigorate community involvement in addressing the needs of children that cannot be addressed by schools alone.
Meka is a committed wife, a caring mother, and an upstanding member of the community. Meka is a member of Sandhills Community Church and continues to serve on various community boards. Meka resides along with her husband and their children in Richland County.
