Dr. Margaret Gilmore

Dr. Margaret Gilmore is the Deputy Vice President of Educational Leadership at InitiativeOne Leadership Institute, where she partners with school districts and organizations to elevate leadership growth and personal development. With over 42 years of leadership experience, she leverages InitiativeOne’s tools and principles to provide customized solutions that drive sustainable organizational growth, empower leaders to live with greater purpose and core values, and position teams for lasting success and impact.

Before retiring, Dr. Gilmore served as Superintendent of Schools, making significant advancements in student achievement, leadership development, organizational culture, facilities improvements, business partnerships, and STEM initiatives. Under her leadership, the district earned system-wide accreditation through COGNIA for the first time. Her career spans numerous leadership roles at the school, district, and state levels… overseeing school/district leadership, curriculum, instruction, and school/district improvement efforts. A sought-after keynote speaker, she has presented at state and national conferences on transformational leadership and the power of leading with purpose, core values, and principles. Dr. Gilmore is an experienced Diagnostic Review Lead Evaluator for COGNIA and currently serves on its Board of Directors.

Her contributions to education have been recognized with numerous awards, including:

• SCAAA Superintendent of the Year (3A/2A/1A, 2021)

• West Tennessee Supervisor of the Year and Tennessee Grand Division Supervisor of the Year

• Tennessee and South Carolina COGNIA Excellence in Education Awards

• Voorhees University Martin Luther King 2024 Drum Major Award

• 2023 Ordinary People Magazine Servant Award

• University of Memphis Leadership Award

• Marquis Who’s Who in America Award

In the span of her career, she has served on numerous leadership committees such as Chair of the South Carolina Executive Superintendents Nominating Committee; Chair, Salkehatchie Superintendents Consortium; Board Member of the Southern Palmetto Regional Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, she has been recognized as a Platinum Superintendent CEEL Cohort (SCASA) graduate, Member of The School Superintendents Association and was a 2023 Superintendent Ambassador to Israel.

Beyond public education, Dr. Gilmore serves as Deputy Commissioner of Education for the national Churches of God in Christ Education Commission. She is married to Eugene Gilmore and is a proud mother of two adult daughters, two sons-in-law, and one granddaughter.