About me
WHERE I COME FROM
I grew up in the small town of Lowrys, South Carolina, halfway between Chester and Rock Hill. I am the wife of a building-level educator here in Greenville and the proud mom of an 8th grader who attends Hughes Academy. We also have two poodles, Max and Dot.
I moved to Greenville in 1995 after graduating in 1993 from Clemson University with a BA in English. At Converse College, I obtained a Masters Degree in Education in 1995 and an Education Specialist Degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 2006. In 2010, I received a Ph.D. in Education Administration from the University of South Carolina.
MY CAREER IN EDUCATION
Beginning in 1995, I spent the first nine years of my career as a high school English Teacher in Greenville County. I had the privilege of teaching students at JL Mann, Mauldin, and Eastside before becoming an Instructional Coach in 2005. In 2007, I became a Berea Bulldog as an assistant principal and worked there until 2010 when I became Director of Teaching and Learning in Beaufort County School District. After two years in Beaufort, I returned home and accepted the position of Director of Academic Support Services for Greenville County School District. In 2015, I moved to the South Carolina Department of Education where I have worked for the past seven years as the Director of the Office of Standards and Learning, and currently, as the Director of the Office of Curricular Innovation.
WHY I AM RUNNING
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My reason for running is simple. I believe that my 27 years of experience in education at school, district, and state levels, coupled with my role as a parent who is actively engaged in her own child's education in Greenville County School District, equip me with the right set of lenses to ensure three key elements that are critical to success.
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Learning environments that are safe, engaging and student-centered
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Recruitment and retention of dedicated and qualified GCDS teachers and ongoing support for their professional growth
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Post-high school success for ALL students through prescriptive learning pathways