AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT WELCOMES KATRINA R. RILEY AS DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES

Aiken County Public School District welcomed Katrina Riley as its Director of Human Resources for the 2025-26 school year. Riley has served in a neighboring district and across multiple states in Human Resources (HR) leadership as well as district and school administration. She’s well-equipped to support the district in elevating its systems and supports that attract, grow, and retain top-tier educators and support staff.

“Stepping into this role is both a professional honor and a personal homecoming,” Riley shared. “I’m thrilled to return to South Carolina and lead with integrity, empathy, and urgency. Our people are our greatest asset, and I’m committed to creating transparent, supportive systems that help every employee thrive.”

Her career in public education began in Florida in 2002, where she served as a seventh grade English teacher. Her experiences in the classroom and success in supporting student growth helped propel Riley’s career forward. Throughout her career spanning more than two decades, she has served as a Standards Coach, Assistant Principal, Principal, Specialist, and in positions of leadership in K-12 Human Resources.

Riley most recently served as the Chief of Human Resources and Talent for Cincinnati Public Schools in Ohio, where she was a member of the superintendent’s cabinet for the state’s second-largest school district. In that role, she oversaw Talent Acquisition and Staffing, Employee Development, Leadership Development, Employee and Labor Relations, Benefits, and Data Systems. Under her leadership, the district successfully decreased certified vacancies by 65%, launched school-based leadership pipelines, implemented a customer service ticketing system, and secured nearly $400,000 in grants and sponsorships for recruitment and retention initiatives.

Following her time in executive HR leadership, Riley made the intentional decision to pause her professional journey in order to care for her elderly mother and brother with special needs. That life experience further strengthened her empathy and deepened her commitment to supporting individuals through life’s complexities. “That perspective grounds my leadership and reinforces my belief in systems that treat people with dignity and care,” she said.

Riley’s transformative impact in nearby Allendale County Schools, where she served as the Director of Human Resources, 2020-2022, is equally impressive. She effectively planned, designed, and developed HR-related initiatives, and helped decrease teacher turnover by 13% and retain 95% of new teachers, allowing the district to start the 2021 and 2022 school years staffed at 100%.

Riley attained an undergraduate degree in English from Florida State University in 2000, and a master’s in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University in 2006. She is a proud member of the American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA), the National Association of Black School Educators (NABSE), and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Riley began her role in Aiken County Public Schools last month and is excited about building strong, collaborative relationships across the district and getting to know the people who make ACPSD such a special place.

“From our school leaders and classroom teachers to the operational teams who keep everything running behind the scenes,” she said, “I’m eager to listen, learn, and co-create a vision for how HR can be a true driver of student success.”