Developing high-quality leaders for the future while strengthening core culture today is a top priority for emerging premier organizations like the Aiken County Public School District, which serves more than 25,000 students and supports over 3,300 employees.
While leadership roles in public schools have traditionally focused on a small number of school building administrators, that dynamic has changed. More than ever, teacher leaders are recognized for the critical role they play in the overall success of each school, and the District is pleased to announce their addition to the organization’s latest Leadership Academy cohorts. This training is a deliberate effort on the part of Aiken County Public Schools to positively impact organizational culture by further opening access to enhanced training opportunities.
“Our District is committed to the professional and personal growth of all employees,” Dr. DeeDee Washington, Chief Officer of Instruction, commented on the plans for next year’s cohort. “We’re excited to extend the opportunity to teachers considering a transition into educational administration and to continue providing training for future leadership opportunities in Aiken’s schools.”
Aiken County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Sean Alford – who served as instructor for the District’s most recent cohort – will lead the first Leadership Academy cohort of the 2017-18 school year, while Aiken County Public Schools Chief Officer of Administration, Mr. King Laurence, will instruct the second 2017-18 Leadership Academy cohort.
Members of the first cohort for the 2017-18 school year include the following administrators and teacher leaders:
Kimmerie Allen (Belvedere Elementary, Assistant Principal); Denise Broome (Human Resources, Classified Staffing Coordinator); John Bush (Paul Knox Middle, Teacher Leader); Carrie Clark (Hammond Hill Elementary, Teacher Leader); Jim Dziczkowski (Midland Valley High, Teacher Leader); Anthony Farr (Aiken High, Assistant Principal); Dustin Fowler (Midland Valley High, Teacher Leader); Anna Harbeson (Clearwater Elementary, Teacher Leader); Cynthia Hewitt (Gloverville Elementary, Assistant Principal); Charity Holdman (District Office, Medical Homebound); John Hostetler (Midland Valley High, Teacher Leader); Sarah Hyer (J.D. Lever Elementary, Assistant Principal); Clyde Jobes (North Aiken Elementary, Assistant Principal); Alecia Kinard (Chukker Creek Elementary, Teacher Leader); Christine Liner (Paul Knox Middle, Teacher Leader); Elizabeth McClearen (Chukker Creek Elementary, Assistant Principal); Paige McLemore (Jefferson Elementary, Reading Coach); Patrick Newsome (Langley-Bath-Clearwater Middle, Teacher Leader); George Pope III (North Aiken Elementary, Teacher Leader); Danille Quattlebaum (Jackson Middle School, Assistant Principal); Kristin Risher (Silver Bluff High, Teacher Leader); Dede Scott (Mossy Creek Elementary, Teacher Leader); Betty Smith (Paul Knox Middle, Assistant Principal); Kristen Sojourner (J.D. Lever Elementary, Teacher Leader); Elizabeth Supan (Oakwood-Windsor Elementary and Jefferson Elementary, Teacher leader); and Amy Wingate (Aiken High, Teacher Leader).
Anna Beth Harbeson, a Teacher Leader and aspiring administrator at Clearwater Elementary and member of this year’s first Leadership Academy cohort, says she will utilize the training she will receive to improve her methodology as a both a current teacher and future administrator.
“I really envision using the instruction from the Leadership Academy to become a better instructional coach and mentor, to take risks, and to expand my teaching and administrative practices,” Harbeson stated. “As an aspiring administrator, this instruction will better prepare me for a bright future in leadership. I am eager to learn and put what I am going to gain from the course into practice.”
Patrick Newsome, the District’s 2017-18 Teacher of the Year and a mathematics instructor at Langley-Bath-Clearwater (LBC) Middle School, will be a member of the second cohort for the upcoming school year. He says the Leadership Academy provides a tremendous opportunity for blended learning with Teacher Leaders working side-by-side with administrators.
“I have reached a point in my career where I believe the greatest impact I can make is through leading a school: the teachers, staff, custodians, and most importantly, the children,” Newsome stated. “The instruction from this cohort will assist me in my growth toward that goal.
“As a teacher, I am responsible for the needs of my students in my classroom. I believe pairing me with an administrator who has experience with the big picture will open my eyes to the task at hand. I also believe it is crucial to have administrators across our organization be individuals who share a common goal. Allowing us to work together clarifies that focus.”
Members of the second cohort for the 2017-18 school year include the following administrators and teacher leaders:
Tyral Braxton (Center for Innovative Learning, Assistant Principal); Beth Barlett (Aiken Elementary, Teacher Leader); Gene Bush (South Aiken High School, Teacher Leader); Megan Bush (Hammond Hill Elementary, Teacher Leader); Carolyn Campbell (Oakwood-Windsor Elementary, Assistant Principal); Latonia Evans (North Augusta Middle School, Teacher Leader); Sylvia Gay (Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle/High, Assistant Principal); Lindsey Hager (Mossy Creek Elementary, Teacher Leader); Timothy Hamilton (Redcliffe Elementary, Teacher Leader); Jeffrey Harting (North Augusta Middle, Assistant Principal/Teacher Leader); Sharon Holloway (Jackson STEM Middle, Teacher Leader); Tabatha Hughes (Millbrook Elementary, Teacher Leader); Dana Jenkins (Midland Valley High, Teacher Leader); Steven Kolodizieizyck (New Ellenton STEAM Middle, Assistant Principal); Nathan Lobaugh (Clearwater Elementary, Teacher Leader); Suman Marks-Johnson (Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle/High, Assistant Principal); Cristine Raines (Chukker Creek Elementary, Teacher Leader); Casey Rogers (Langley-Bath-Clearwater Middle, Teacher Leader); John Ross (Oakwood-Windsor Elementary, Teacher Leader); Tammy Rudd (Oakwood-Windsor Elementary, Teacher Leader); Clinton Saunders (Busbee-Corbett Elementary/Middle, Assistant Principal); Charidy Simon (Millbrook Elementary, Teacher Leader); Wilton Stone, Jr. (Kennedy Middle, Teacher Leader); CaraLynn Williams (Greendale Elementary), Teacher Leader); and Mark Wright (Ridge Spring-Monetta Elementary, Teacher Leader).
Sarah Hyer is a former school administrator in Columbia County who is joining Aiken County’s ONE TEAM this school year as an assistant principal at J.D. Lever Elementary School.
“Although I have been an administrator for the past 2 years, I will be a new administrator in Aiken County, and this course will give me the opportunity to learn more about Aiken County,” Hyer stated. “It will also provide valuable information, discussions, expectations, and much more that will help me grow as a leader, which will in turn help my school grow.”
Hyer feels it is extremely important to include Teacher Leaders in leadership initiatives across any school district.
“Teacher leaders play a key role in any school environment. Many times the teacher leaders are those individuals who help administrators roll out new initiatives, re-deliver important information, and help encourage teachers to move forward with a school’s vision,” Hyer added. “Teacher leaders are often future administrators, and need to work closely with administration to gain that unique perspective.”
LINK TO DISTRICT PRESS RELEASE: 2017 PR NEW LEADERSHIP ACA COHORTS