Mrs. Groves graduated from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. She received her Master's degree in Administration and Supervision from Charleston Southern University. Mrs. Groves taught 7th and 8th grade math, social studies, and ProTeam at College Park Middle School.

During her time at College Park Middle, she was named Berkeley County School District Teacher of the Year.

Prior to becoming an administrator, Mrs. Groves was an Instructional Technology Specialist for Berkeley County School District. In this role, she shared her passion for educational technology and innovation with teachers across BCSD, and presented at numerous state and national conferences. She was named a Discovery Education Star Educator and earned certifications as a SMART Technology trainer, Google Educator, and Brain Pop Educator.

Mrs. Groves has been at Philip Simmons Middle School since the school opened in 2016. She was the Assistant Principal for two years before becoming Principal in 2018. She is proud of the role she has played in building a culture of academic excellence and community at Philip Simmons Middle School.

Phone: 843-471-2590

Email: GrovesC@bcsdschools.net

Chris Thurman joined the Philip Simmons Middle team in 2018 as an Assistant Principal. He holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Clemson University, an M.Ed. in Secondary Administration and Supervision from Southern Wesleyan University, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Educational Leadership from Northcentral University.

His career as an educator spans over 9 years in which he has taught middle level mathematics, life skills, and computer science courses in Charleston County, where he also briefly served as a district-level evaluator.

Mr. Thurman believes in the power of mentorship, a characteristic he gained from his experience in Call Me MISTER, an initiative to recruit men from minority and underprivileged backgrounds in service as educators. Serving as a mentor has allowed Mr. Thurman to build stronger connections to students and families he has served throughout the years. 

Mr. Thurman enjoys serving the Charleston community as the Assistant Chaplain of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and the Vice President of the Lowcountry Alumni Association of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity. Mr. Thurman resides in Dorchester County with his wife, Xaviera, and their three children: Cadence (6), Christopher “Bubby” (3), and Charlotte (1).

Phone: 843-471-2590

Email: thurmanchristopher@bcsdschools.net