Derrick C. Manning

Derrick C. Manning is a results-oriented and visionary instructional leader currently serving students in the Clayton County Public Schools District. During his tenure, he has dedicated his talents and energies to ensuring a quality education for children of all backgrounds. His experiences have taken him from high school principal leadership to Assistant Superintendent of High Schools to Area Superintendent of K

through 12 schools.

 

Derrick Manning has demonstrated his abilities to close the achievement gap, raise test scores, and bring student achievement up to record levels at Glades Central High School, Palm Beach County Florida, Cass High School, Bartow County Georgia and North Clayton High School – Clayton County Georgia. In 2006, he was appointed the Area Superintendent of nine high schools in Clayton County Public Schools, serving approximately 12,000 high school students. Later, in 2009, he was appointed an Area Superintendent serving elementary, middle and high schools in a specific area of Clayton County.

​

Mr. Manning was recognized by the Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers’ Association, as the High School Principal of the Year during his first year as principal and received the Gold Improvement Award from High Schools That Work (HSTW) during the 2004 National Conference on behalf of Cass High School. In addition, Derrick was a presenter at the 2004 HSTW National Conference, “No Dollars, Just Sense.”

 

An accomplished change agent, Derrick led a performance turnaround at North Clayton High School, recording substantial improvements in student attendance, test scores, state evaluations, morale, student participation, teacher engagement, and teacher retention. Under his direction, an amazing pool of talented teachers boosted test scores in math, science, and language arts within a two-year period. He attributed his success to high expectations, positive parental relations, and collaboration with teachers. Known for his creative inspiration and responsiveness to new challenges, Derrick enthusiastically accepted the challenge of leading one of the “toughest” high schools in Clayton County. He introduced a new vision and steadfastly improved the quality of instruction, school culture, and student achievement where high performance was institutionalized and championed by all.

 

Serving as the Area Assistant Superintendent of High Schools for four years, successes were realized, as his ability to communicate and engage parents, community members, and students was hailed as one of the hallmarks of his leadership. Additionally, his collaborative leadership style led to improved high school leadership, improved and focused principal training, and increased knowledge and support for curriculum and instructional focus by school leaders. His focus was on improving teacher training and focused understanding of assessment practices, especially as state standards began to change. Under his tutelage, learning became a force of nature. It flowed in a variety of directions, through all sorts of unconventional dialogues and streams of thought, both inside and outside of the classroom. His service as an Area Superintendent also allowed him to work with teachers from elementary and middle schools. It was there that he worked to align the instructional process from kindergarten to middle to high school, seeking improved student outcomes.

 

A native of Miami Florida, Derrick earned his undergraduate degree from Florida A & M University in Biology and Health/Physical Education – Magna Cum Laude. In addition, he was awarded a Masters of Science degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. He is happily married to Kimberly Godwin Manning, an executive with ABC News, with a blended family of four adult children.