Administration

Mr. Barrett Reese, Principal

Reese, is the former principal of Early College High School, where he led with a clear focus on student opportunity, strong culture, and academic excellence. During his tenure, Early College achieved remarkable outcomes, including 80 percent of graduating seniors earning an associate degree, 100 percent of students meeting College and Career Readiness benchmarks, and exceptional academic performance with 100 percent of students earning a C or higher on the English II End-of-Course exam.

Under his leadership, the school has also built a nationally recognized positive school culture, with 98 percent of students reporting a strong social and learning environment, placing the school in the 99th percentile nationwide. His work has centered on expanding access to rigorous coursework, strengthening instructional practices through AVID, and ensuring every student is supported through a comprehensive system of academic and social-emotional supports.

Mr. Reese’s leadership reflects a commitment to high expectations paired with strong systems of support. At Early College, he has overseen more than 1,400 dual credit enrollments annually, strengthened partnerships with Trident Technical College, and implemented collaborative, learner-centered instructional practices that empower both students and teachers.

Prior to serving as principal, Mr. Reese held roles as assistant principal at Early College High School and Simmons-Pinckney Middle School, where he focused on instructional leadership, student support systems, and school culture development.

Mr. Reese holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and a certification in Secondary Administration from The Citadel Graduate College, as well as a Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Carolina.

Ms. Kylene Gerideau-Grant, Assistant Principal

Throughout her career, Ms. Gerideau-Grant has provided exemplary leadership in her varied professional roles both in education and in the private sector. She holds a bachelor’s degree from University of South Carolina as well as two masters’ degrees in Management and in Educational Leadership. Since leaving the private sector and becoming an educator in 2012, Ms. Gerideau-Grant has taught Career and Technology Education Courses at both the middle and high school level at both Baptist Hill High School and Jerry Zucker Middle School and most recently was the Assistant Administrator at School of the Arts for the 2022-23 school year.

She has been recognized for her exemplary performance in both teaching and leadership roles with a consistent interest in curriculum design and has served on instructional material review panels at the state level (Google Basics Curriculum). She is a trained teacher mentor and teacher evaluator, and is also a nationally recognized educator by the Committee for Children, a curriculum designer (the Second Steps curriculum). She also coached Burke High School’s Charisma dance line and the TC Flag Brigade for 10 years.

Ms. Gerideau-Grant looks forward to joining our high achieving team of faculty, staff, and students. We expect that she will be an exceptional fit at Academic Magnet for both her instructional leadership and her relationship capacity.

Ms. Flashette Johnson, Assistant Principal

Throughout her career in education, Ms. Johnson has provided exemplary leadership in her varied roles. She holds a bachelor’s degree from The College of Charleston as well as two Masters’ degrees: one in Education/Administration and Supervision and one in Management and Leadership. Since leaving the private sector and becoming an educator in 2008, Ms. Johnson taught Honors and grade level English Language Arts for ten years and served as a middle school instructional coach for the Berkeley County School District. She joined Charleston County School District in 2021 as the Secondary Lead Teacher in the CCSD Gifted and Talented Office. Ms. Johnson’s efforts over the past three years have led to a 7% increase in secondary students identified as GT and a 66% increase in College Board Advanced Placement certified teachers.

She has been recognized for her exemplary performance in both teaching and leadership roles with a consistent interest in gifted curriculum/instruction, personalized learning, equity, and diversity. She has served on the Test Data Review Committee at the state level for the 2024 SC Ready ELA 6-8 test and as a KnowledgeWorks 2020 Personalized Learning Community Fellow. She currently serves as a member of the Diversity & Equity Committee for NAGC (National Association for Gifted Children). She is a trained teacher mentor and teacher evaluator, and member of the CCSD Instructional Framework Steering Committee.

Ms. Johnson has logged some Academic Magnet time over the past several years and you may recognize her from her work hosting the district-level Academic Bowls on Thursday evenings or from her role in the Achieving Charleston Excellence (ACE) program. We expect that she will be an excellent fit at Academic Magnet for proven commitment to exceptional student outcomes, her strong gifted and talented instructional leadership, and her commitment to diversity and equity.

Ms. Gabrielle Krupilis, School Counseling Director

A compassionate and student-centered counselor, Ms. Krupilis began her experience in guidance at Discovery High School in Lawrenceville, GA, where she served 10th – 12th graders. Over the past six years, Ms. Krupilis has met Magnet students’ academic, social-emotional, and college/career needs all while helping coordinate our school’s substantial testing schedules and overseeing targeted student interventions. Ms. Krupilis possesses a balanced skill set that
allows her to serve school-wide programmatic needs and also be the preferred adult of many Raptor students. From AP testing to Prom, she has a comprehensive understanding of the Academic Magnet experience.

Ms. Krupilis earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Family and Child Sciences from Florida State University and both a Master of Education and a Specialist of Education in Professional School Counseling from the University of Georgia.

When not working at Academic Magnet High School, you can find Ms. Krupilis reading, playing Mahjong, or spending time with her family, husband John, 4-year-old Wyatt, 5-year-old Brooks, and 7-month-old daughter Daisy. Asked to reflect on the new appointment, Ms. Krupilis shared that she is “thrilled to continue the amazing work of the AMHS counseling department.” We at Academic Magnet High School are thrilled to have her.

Coach Raymond Knauer, Athletic Director

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, Raymond Knauer moved south beginning his teaching career in 2004 at North Charleston High School. He has served as a coach, teacher, instructional coach and athletic director at North Charleston High School for the past eighteen years. During the past seven years, Coach Knauer has worked to build NCHS athletic programs into a regional force and he leaves a legacy of improved student outcomes on the fields, courts, and in the classrooms. Mr. Knauer reflected, “In my role, I have done anything to meet a challenge and solve a problem. I strive to always serve student athletes and find creative solutions to unique situations,” adding “I am a huge, loyal advocate for my students and my school.”

A former lacrosse athlete, Coach Knauer has some Academic Magnet connections as well... He was instrumental in starting the Raptor lacrosse program serving as assistant coach during the program’s first two years. Coach Knauer has also coached cross-country and football and has invested energy in creating a more robust athletic program at NCHS. He loves the spirit of competition and believes that every sport is important and meaningful for a successful athletic program.

Coach Knauer also brings an outstanding working knowledge of the SC High School League coupled with over a decade of positive relationships with regional athletic directors and coaches. He has formed partnerships with an array of local, regional, and national organizations to serve athletic goals and is known in the local sporting community for his affable trustworthiness and “whatever it takes” work ethic. He knows the systems and processes of the Charleston County School District and is familiar with the local collegiate landscape for athletics.