The Voice of School Boards

As leading voices for public schools, the visibility of local school board members advocating for the students, teachers and parents in their district is so important. Hear what board members were able to accomplish at the State House this year and how the relationships forged are making impact in their respective districts.

Thomas Bertrand, executive director of the Consortium of State School Boards Associations (COSSBA), and Ege Cordell, COSSBA board chairperson, share where the fairly newly formed non-partisan, national alliance stands now regarding programming and growth and what’s next.

About one year ago, the Governor requested funds to create the S.C. Center for School Safety and Targeted Violence to be housed at the old Gilbert Elementary School in Lexington County. Today, it's close to becoming a reality. With Mark Keel, chief of S.L.E.D. at the helm, learn just how close the Governor's vision is to full fruition.

Want to know what to expect in year-two of the 125th session of the General Assembly? What new bills will be introduced which directly impact public education and which from last year have the potential of resurfacing?

SCSBA's Director of Governmental Relations Debbie Elmore offers a glimpse into the coming year.

SCSBA Executive Director Scott Price and Gail Hughes, recent past president of the Association, discuss Hughes' year of service as president, where she provides advice for those who serve or are planning to serve in a similar capacity.

Prior to serving in the State Senate, Sen. Greg Hembree served as the city attorney for North Myrtle Beach from 1995-1999 and the 15th Circuit Solicitor for Horry and Georgetown counties – a position he held for 14 years. In the Senate, Hembree serves on the Education (chairperson), Transportation, Finance, Corrections and Penology and Rules committees.

Hear what Sen. Hembree has to say about public education as it is now and what the future might hold.

Dr. Crystal “Crissie” Stapleton is the superintendent of Barnwell 45, soon to be Barnwell County Consolidated School District, and serves as the chairperson of the South Carolina State Board of Education. The Voice of School Boards (VSB) Podcast Host and SCSBA Executive Director Scott Price and Dr. Stapleton discuss consolidation, state leadership and endurance.

SCSBA in partnership with the Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC) is excited to announce its first-ever joint training initiative focusing on civility in South Carolina board and council rooms. The one-day intensive training titled, “Bringing Civility to Verbal Conflict” will be held on Thursday, Oct. 19 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

SCSBA and MASC welcome Harry P. Dolan, retired Chief of Police of the Raleigh, North Carolina Police Department to lead a session on verbal judo or the art of de-escalating, deflecting and redirecting volatile verbal encounters.

For SCSBA, this exciting joint venture replaces this year’s Beyond the Basics, which is typically held in October and focuses on a trending education topic.

SCSBA Executive Director and host of the Voice of School Boards podcast Scott Price welcomes 2024 S.C. Superintendent of the Year Dr. Rick Maxey to discuss the upcoming year of service. Dr. Maxey shares his educational philosophy and his hopes for education going forward.

SCSBA Executive Director and host of the Voice of School Boards podcast Scott Price welcomes 2024 S.C. Teacher of the Year Michelle "Renee'" Atkinson to discuss the upcoming year of service. Atkinson shares her purpose, her platform and her plan.

The South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA) relaunched its campaign to share profiles of its membership and it now includes feature stories. Listen to the actual interviews of the following school board members who are featured in this order:

• Sylvia Harrison, Fairfield County School Board/Owner of Sylvia’s Designs Unlimited
• Dr. Brent Powers, Lexington One School Board/Senior Vice President and System Chief Medical Officer at Lexington Medical Center
• Beverly Bonaparte, Bamberg County School Board/Volunteer Director of a Food Pantry
• Shanda Allen, Horry County School Board/Co-owner of Allen Aviation

SCSBA General Counsel and Director of Policy Services Stephanie Lawrence sits down with SCSBA Executive Director and host of The Voice for School Boards podcast Scott Price to provide details of a recent statute requiring board members to either create a policy requiring unencumbered time for teachers by July 1. For board who haven't done so, there is less than a month left. Find out how to comply.

As the legislature deliberates the budget, SCSBA Executive Director Scott Price sits down with State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver to discuss her top three priorities for public education in South Carolina and what the funding may look like this cycle.

From the growing concern over the statewide school bus driver shortage and the latest incentives being offered, to the deployment of electric school buses and passenger safety, former state representative Ronny Townsend, who is now executive director of the South Carolina Association of Pupil Transportation, shares it all with SCSBA Executive Director Scott Price.

Hear key takeaways from school board members who met with their legislators at SCSBA's annual Day at the Capitol recently. Here is what Fairfield County School District board secretary Sylvia Harrison; Lexington One board member Kathryn E. McCown; and Bamberg County School District board member Beverly Bonaparte, had to say about their meetings with their legislators.

Born in Greenville, S.C., State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver saw first-hand the power of a great education. Ellen began her education in a small private school, before completing sixth to tenth grades as a homeschooled student and graduating from a great public high school. Growing up, she had the opportunity to work with her father in his small business, working on construction sites, instilling in her integrity, tenacity, and a strong work ethic.

Throughout her education, Ellen witnessed the power a single great teacher can have on a student's life. As Superintendent, Ellen says she is focused on delivering an excellent education for every child. 

Establishing positive behavioral beliefs and practices has been at the foundation of school board policy for many years. School boards and the communities they serve – perhaps more than any other local government - benefit from established practices of positive discourse. Nationally and closer to home, civil discourse is in crisis. But at the local level, school boards and city councils are about working together to reach common goals. Against that setting, two state associations see an opportunity for their respective memberships to be local leaders in promoting civility.

The South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA) and the Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC) are partnering to help local leaders become models of how to govern best and to emphasize the basics of effective local governing, such as:

• Running effective meetings: We provide training and guidance on how to conduct effective school board meetings.
• Communicating thoughtfully: Being open, honest and transparent – making sure everyone has access to the same universe of facts – is essential for people from different backgrounds and with varying viewpoints to work together toward real solutions.
• Building relationships: Cultivating trusting relationships with others involved in an issue takes time, but the effort is worth it, and will pay off in the future.

SCSBA Executive Director Scott Price and Jamie Devine, recent past president of the Association, discuss Devine's year of service as president, where he provides nuggets of wisdom for the association going forward. 

A music teacher for over 18 years, Molly was known for giving every child a chance on stage in her annual music productions. She was named “Teacher of the Year” at Chapin Elementary. She also taught in Gilbert and Saluda, where she served as assistant principal.

In 1993, Molly was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives. She served four terms and was regarded as a champion for children’s issues. Both the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and the American Legion designated Molly as “Legislator of the Year.” Fighting inefficiency and red tape in government programs, Molly authored the bill that ended the $3.00 car inspection program — a nuisance to every vehicle owner that showed no improvement in highway safety.

Molly was appointed Deputy Superintendent of Education for Governmental Relations at the South Carolina Department of Education (DOE) in 1998. She worked closely with legislators, educators and business leaders on policies to improve education in South Carolina.

Molly went on to lead the South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA), a professional organization of over 3600 principals, superintendents, and school leaders in the state.

Molly Spearman was elected as the 18th South Carolina State Superintendent of Education on Nov. 4, 2014, and took the oath of office on Jan. 14, 2015. Her current term is ending and she is not seeking re-election.

SCSBA Executive Director Scott Price sits down with Alan Walters, director of Safety and Risk Management in Georgetown County School District, to discuss school safety/security. In addition to his current position, Walters is also the chairman of the state board of education, for which he ran on a platform emphasizing school safety.

Previously, Walters served 12 years as a Summary Court Judge and most recently as a Municipal Court Judge for the town of Pawleys Island. Walters also spent 17 years as a highly decorated law enforcement officer whose awards include being named S.C. Deputy Sheriff of the Year and S.C. Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. During his service he held positions including investigator, school resource officer, crime prevention officer, SWAT operator, crisis negotiator and training instructor.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Southern Illinois University and a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of South Carolina. Walters and his wife have two sons.