The Palmetto Education Summit 2026

Carrie Chappell serves as Assistant Director of Beaufort-Jasper Academy for Career Excellence (BJACE), a multi-district career center in South Carolina dedicated to preparing students for high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand careers. In her role, she provides strategic leadership in Career and Technical Education (CTE), program development, and STEM advancement, helping align academic instruction with workforce needs across Beaufort and Jasper Counties. Carrie has been instrumental in strengthening industry partnerships, expanding work-based learning opportunities, and leading continuous improvement efforts that resulted in BJACE earning Cognia STEM Certification. Her work focuses on redefining career readiness by integrating rigorous academics, real-world application, and industry credentials to ensure students graduate with both college and career pathways available to them. With a background in educational leadership, program development, and organizational strategy, Carrie is passionate about transforming perceptions of CTE and building innovative systems that equip students with the skills, certifications, and confidence needed for lifelong success.