Aiken County Public Schools is pleased to announce Thurston Williams as the new principal of New Ellenton Middle STEAM Magnet School (NEMS) for the 2024-25 school year. Williams most recently served as an assistant principal for Kennedy Middle. He has more than a decade of teaching experience ranging from Special Education to Mathematics, along with experience in administration at the middle and high school levels.
“This new role means a lot to me because I have the opportunity to join in on excellent things happening at New Ellenton,” he shared. “I’m honored to lead and serve a hardworking and tight-knit staff who truly have hearts for their students.”
Williams is excited to dive into the school’s magnet focus of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) this year. “There’s not just STEAM theory going on at New Ellenton; there is real application and students have been growing immensely from their experiences at the school,” he acknowledged.
Aiken County Board of Education members approved Williams’ appointment during the school board’s May 14, 2024, regularly scheduled meeting. Mrs. Shunte Dugar, the school’s principal since 2013, is transitioning to a new role in the district as principal at Schofield Middle School in July.
Williams says his intrinsic motivation, ambition, and calling drew him to the principalship at NEMS. “I’ve seen from a distance the results of teachers’ hard work at New Ellenton,” he shared. “Everyone I’ve met had only glowing things to say about the school, community, and supportive co-workers.”
Williams began his career as a special education paraprofessional at Langford Middle School in Richmond County in 2009. He went on to teach math at Tutt Middle and Lucy C. Laney High from 2011-2018, before serving as a math teacher, department chair, and mentor teacher for the Alternative Center at Morgan Road in Richmond County through 2021.
He joined Aiken County Public Schools as an assistant principal for North Augusta High School in 2021. For the past two years, Williams has served as an assistant principal at Kennedy Middle School. At Kennedy, Williams was the lead administrator for Tier I positive behavior supports and as the school’s Title I coordinator. Williams contributed to an increase in student attendance at Kennedy through interventions and has made strides in improving school-parent-community partnerships by implementing the All-Pro Dads Program, an initiative he hopes to incorporate into the culture at NEMS.
“Each month, dads and father figures come to school with their child and engage in meaningful conversations designed to strengthen their relationship,” Williams explained of the All-Pro Dads Program. “I am most proud of the testimonials from these fathers who appreciated what we were doing and how much closer they felt to their children.”
Williams and his wife of 19 years have four children, three are currently in college and their youngest is entering his sophomore year of high school. He and his family are looking forward to getting more involved within the New Ellenton community as a part of his commitment to add value to his new school community.
“There have been several community partnerships forged over the past several years that we’d like to see continue,” he commented. Williams encourages community members and families to reach out to him as he takes on his new role as principal of New Ellenton Middle.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications Degree with an emphasis in Television and Cinema from Augusta University in 2004. He continued to further his education, obtaining a Master of Arts degree in Middle Grades Education in 2011, an Educational Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 2015, and Educational Leadership Tier I in 2021, all from Augusta University. He completed Aiken County’s Aspiring Principals Program in June 2024, and is currently engaged in Doctorial studies, with an expected completion date of January 2025.
“The opportunity to be a part of a school that aligns with my ‘Why’ is a privilege,” he commented. “It is an honor to be selected to serve this school and together we will continue to take New Ellenton Middle STEAM Magnet School to new heights.”
The community is invited to drop-in from 4:00-6:00 p.m. and “Meet the Principal” on Thursday, July 18, 2024, during “Walk Your Schedule” at New Ellenton Middle STEAM Magnet School.