News and Updates

Columbia, SC - Edgefield County School District’s (ECSD) school librarians recently attended the annual state conference of the South Carolina Association of School Librarians (SCASL), where they were honored for achieving 100-percent association membership.

The event was held March 19-21, 2025, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center and celebrated 50 years of the conference with a theme of “Librarians are Solid Gold”.

Congratulations ECSD librarians!

STUDENT PERFORMERS, ARTISTS SHINE BRIGHTLY DURING 36^TH ANNUAL ECSD FINE ARTS FESTIVAL

Johnston, SC – Looking into a crowd filled with many former students, then turning to current students standing on raised stands, Steven McKinney poured out his heart before directing his last grand finale of the fine arts festival he created.

Thirty-six years ago, McKinney, who is retiring at the end of the school year, dreamed of an annual showcase for all of the Edgefield County School District’s (ECSD) fine arts programs. On Thursday (3/20), he said goodbye as the festival’s director.

“I will always, no matter where you are or where you’ll be, I will always be by your side and I hope in your heart because you will always be in my heart,” McKinney said just prior to the finale. 

The 36th Annual ECSD Fine Arts Festival was another huge evening for the fine arts in Edgefield County, and an emotional farewell to McKinney. In addition to the tearful finale, a song chosen by McKinney and entitled “By Your Side and in Your Heart” the evening also featured a special performance of the song “For Good” by a group of his former students, three of whom are current ECSD fine arts educators. McKinney and his wife, Brenda, were also presented with a rocking bench by members of the ECSD Fine Arts Festival Committee.

The popular annual event, now hosted by Strom Thurmond High School (STHS), featured student performers and visual artists from Johnston Elementary, Douglas Elementary, Merriwether Elementary, W.E. Parker Elementary, Merriwether Middle, Johnston-Edgefield-Trenton (J-E-T) Middle and our STHS Rebels.

The program was directed for the final time by STHS Music Teacher, Steven McKinney.

Our school district’s music teachers and art teachers always put together an outstanding event. These talented individuals include:

ECSD MUSIC TEACHERS - Laura Herring (Douglas Elementary), Clare Henry (Merriwether Elementary), Amanda Fulmer (Johnston Elementary), Kayleigh Riser (W.E. Parker Elementary), Matt Herring (Merriwether Middle), Imelda Shoffner and Keyson Whiteside (J-E-T Middle) and Steven McKinney (Strom Thurmond High School).

ECSD ART TEACHERS - Avis Tuttle Jordan (JET Middle School), Olivia Paradis (Merriwether Middle), Michael Keltz (Merriwether Elementary) April Arthur (Johnston Elementary) Michele Wilson (Douglas Elementary), Suzanne Boswell (W.E. Parker Elementary) and Travis Selman (Strom Thurmond High).

Strom Thurmond High School Director of Bands, Stacy Coker, and the STHS Jazz Band performed during performance transitions. During the performing arts program, a visual arts showcase was displayed. The showcase is linked below.

LINK TO VISUAL ARTS SHOWCASE: https://ecsdsc.link/9pcdw 

36^TH ANNUAL ECSD FINE ARTS FESTIVAL PERFORMING ARTS STUDENTS

DOUGLAS ELEMENTARY - Amere Broadwater, Johanna Brown, Baylee Brown, Kairi Cleveland, Carson Counts, Ariane Counts

Aubriana Darlington, Benji Dumais, Alina Figueroa, Shelby Hawkins, Thomas Holmes, Clark Munford, Jana Osei-Tutu, Kameron Roton, Ella Rourk, Miguel Dias Salvador, Olivia Schwartz, Leland Sherman, Cheriste’ Sylvester, Ethan Tompkins, Giselle Trujillo and Kyra Williams. JOHNSTON ELEMENTARY - Aaliyah Barnes, Jaden Bosket, Abel Bright, Brenden Brown, Kinsley Brunson, Sam Collar, Lily Colvin, Gracie Corley, Brayla Davis, Maddisyn Dillard, Lela Fallaw, Skyler Fowler, Leslie Gomez, Zayden Greggs, A'kyla Hammond, Allyson Hammond, Skylar Knight, Amyra Langford, Jaxon Latimer, Haylee Mattson, Lorielle McKinney, Joselyn Navaro, Levi Pack, Aiden Parker, Demarius Summers, Carolina Turner, Righteous Watson, A'Donis Weaver, Mirykal West and Lauren Whatley. MERRIWETHER ELEMENTARY - Mary Elizabeth Anderson, Claire Blackston, Caroline Booker, Teagan Caines, Connor Chambers, Kaden Clark, Janiah Clemente, Adelyn Cullum, Brooklynn Dawkins, DJ Davis, Kooper Dooley, Avery Favreau, Emersyn Godfrey, Logan Hargrove, Olivia Jones, Hollis Jordan, Nora Joye, Emma Key, Slate Litchfield, Lincoln Marano, Timothy Mayson, Sania McDonald, Madison Mellot, Evelyn Miller, Lila Moore, Miah Nelson, Trip Platson, Paisley Powell, Norah Pierce, Peyton Register, Kelsi Ryals, Kaleigh Ryan, Tate Sanders, Tripp Studdard, Cooper Sikes, Kathryn Stanford, Savannah Smith, Shelby Smith, Shelby Swearingen, Natalie Terwilliger, Lynlee Tyler, Waverly Wanniger, Langston Willingham, Nakyli Wright and Tori Zahner. W.E. PARKER ELEMENTARY - GiGi Forrest, Kayleigh Holloway, Kinsley Isaacs, Ansley Isaacs, Gabriella Jump, Kennedy Mariano, Skailar Morton, Teleiah Pressley, Teiana Pressley, Kyleigh Smith, London Thomas, Destini Turner, Chloe Williamson and Carly Young. JET MDDLE - McKile Barnes, Kiyanah Bibbs, Nyeema Bruton, Rebecca Bryan, Jalayah Buggs, Madison Bush, Teena Butler, Austin Calloway, Charlie Carroway, Mauleen Chiles, Lucy Cockrell, Yoselin Cortez, Addyson Crawford, Bene Daniels, Christian Davis, Berenice Estrada, Wyatt Hammond, Kemira Hardy, Lakethia Harris, Akasha Hodge, Miranda Holmes, Willow Jenkins, Alaysia Johnson, Makayla Kenley, Sa’Mya Lovett, Serenity Maddox, Christopher Mason, Gavin Mason, Phaedra Mason, Khira Mathis, Ciara Mealing, Janayiah Moore, A’mya Mose, Kiara Palmore, Alexi Pressley, Ja'zyriah Rhinehart, Addison Robertson, Hayden Rouse, Dezerae Schwalbauch, Braylon Simpkins, Ricardo Smith, Olivia Stevens, Kymeria Taylor, Lane Whatley, Logan Yeldell and Maddison Young. MERRIWETHER MIDDLE - Lily Adams, Matisyn Allison, Paiton Allison, Emma Almendarez, Cameron Beall, Chesnee Burke, Lilly Byers, Autumn Cates, Geneivieve Cates, Marilyn-Rose Crispin, Justus Daly, Jaime Elliott, Mary Claire Hendrix, Cidney Holliman, Tionnah Hood, Kylee Jarrett, Ty'Aijah Johnson, EJ Keel, Trinity Keitt, Pace Kenrick, Avery Key, Rhetta Key, Kaylin Kinard, Kendrick Lee, Lillian Lehman, Shelby Machado, Emery Matthews, Madi Messina, Ann Marie Miller, Alivia Miskelly, Madalyn Miskelly, Logan O'Kelley, Brynleigh Powell, Safeerah Rahman, Aubrey Robbins, Gianna Roberts, Evie Schwarz, Dawson Shealey, Ashton Simmons, Baileigh Sizemore, Zariah Slate, Emma Clair Sutton, Khloee Taylor, Hailey Terwilliger, Madison Wilson and Dexter Young. STROM THURMOND HIGH - Cameron Allen, Stajia Angermeier, Shanya Blocker, Zariah Brown, Inaya Brown, Kristian Brown, Kai’anna Buchanan, Ashley Cates, Allie Enlow, Audrianna Figueroa, Angelique Phillips Fogle, Makayla Gilbert, Brycen Harmon, Diamond Harrison-Clark, Serenity Hilton, Cheyanna Hydrick, Hope Jennings, Arianna Jump, Nickesha Lanham, Reece Lowe, Juanita Miles, Glorieanna Mosley, Da’Laysha Patten, Madisyn Preston, Toney Robinson, Niya Roldan, Khyia Surry, Areli Guevara Vazquez, Creighton Walker and Noah Yeldell. STROM THURMOND HIGH JAZZ BAND - Alto Sax: Cherish Harris, Litzy Ramirez-Jimenez, Faith Johnson and Amber Bishop. Tenor Sax: Irvin Ojeda Garcia. Baritone Sax: Lauchlin McLaurin. Trumpet: Caleb Thornton, McKenzie Brown, A'zaria Butler, Hayden Gregory and Allison Castro. Trombone: Brandon Thomas, Travis Abney, Rihanna Butler and Shamarion Freeman. Rhythm Section: Mirayah Clarke, Carl Widell and Charlie Gonzalez.

VISUAL ARTS STUDENTS

DOUGLAS ELEMENTARY - Adriana Agustin, Dulce Agustin, Gracie Anderson, Mikhail Andrews, Aden Andrews, Sariah Bailey, Briley Banks, Faith Benolyna, Baylee Brown, Johanna Brown, Shaundez Brunson, Saion Bush, Kelsey Byers, Carlos Castro, Kynadee Chandler, Cali Counts, Carson Counts, Josh Cruz-Abelar, Ava Dumais, Ella Dumais, Khloee Erwin, Izaiah Erwin, Kaylen Estrada, Alina Figueroa, Fredy Garcia, Malaki Goodman, Gabby Gray, Lakiyah Hardy, Oaklyn Harmon, Brooklyn Harris

Ryden Hatley, Shelby Hawkins, Emberly Henley, Rachel Herring, T.J. Holmes, Presley Hutherson, Hayden Johnson, Londyn Kennion, Dalton Kring, Nadelie Leno, Zariya Lovett, Liam Martin, Eli Mason, William Mosuch, Dalaysia Moultrie, Jana Osei-Tutu, Gabby Plair, Danielle Plair, Philip Price, Miguel Salvador, Alexia Sanchez, Ian Sanchez, Carter Santiago, Olivia Schwartz, Maggie Schwartz, Tildon Scott, Avery Seaward, King Settles, Leland Sherman, Greyson Smoak, Nova Stevens, Anna Steward, Adrian Stewart, Cheriste’ Sylvester, Kayden Thomas, Miranda Toledo, Giselle Trujillo, Luis Varela, Alessandro Velazquez-Peña, Ximena Ventura, Jake Walker, Eli Walker, Zelis Walker, Bella Walton, Disney Williams, Leah Williams and Leila Yeldell.

JOHNSTON ELEMENTARY - Miranda Acosta Morales, Italy Alarcon, J’von Alford, Brenden Brown, Samya Brown, Ava Bryant, Yennifer Cabrera, Ma’kayiah Carnard, Angel Clark, Sam Collar, Trent Collins, Lily Colvin, Callie-Grace Corley, Hadleigh Corley, Wesley Crow, Kinsley Curry, Keon Daniels, Sophie Davison, Neveah Derrick, Maddisyn Dillard, Sam Dillard, Jeremiah Dobbs, Benjamin Edwards, Raelyn Elmore, Lela Fallaw, Karson Ford, Karter Ford, Emma Fowler, Malakai Gaither, Yeremi Garcia Molina, Tiana Garrett, Emerald Gilchrist, Carla Godinez Zamorano, Geidy Godinez Zamorano, Leslie Gomez, Alisson Guzman, Caroline Guzman Vasquez, Logan Harris, Grayson Hartley, Hannah Istrate, Hunter Kelly, Soyer Kelly, Naomi Key, Sha Lazire, Erick Lopez-Lozano, Evelyn Lopez-Ordonez, Chyna Martin, Fredrick Martin, Haylee Mattson, Sergio Mealing, Jasmine Navarro, Joselyn Navarro, Kaiden Nicholson, Maria Nolasco-Gonzalez, Jaceon Norris, Ja’zuir Norris, Iker Orozvo-Guevara, Vanessa Palma Garcia, Ashton Parker, Aubrey Parkman, Bailie Pedroza-Monroy, John Phillips, Aubrey Pixley, Amina Quansah, Jacob Richter, Zyeer Screws, Emma Sherrill, Aubree Stidem, Reece Strickland, Demarius Summers, Jaxon Tamayo, Westin Tardiff, Terrence Tucker, Nataly Vazquez Zamorano, Liam Velazquez Hernandez, Yenifer Villegas Jiguan, Righteous Watson and Gracelynn Williams. MERRIWETHER ELEMENTARY - Noah Abbott, Jazlyn Adams, Savannah Adams, Blake Adams

Felicity Aho, Brooklyn Anderson, Waylyn Auffrey, Wyleigh Auffrey, Meredith Balliet, Khloe Barnett, Ana Barrow, Silas Barrow, Sophie Bass, Lacey Birt, Claire Blackston, Bailey Blair, Taylor Bowers, Maci Bowers, Preston Boyd, Blaire Brittingham, Emma Bullard, Dakota Byers, Joy Catoe, Connor Chambers, Owen Christian, Adrian Coach, Clayton Copeland, Derek Cullum, Adelyn Cullum, Alfonzo Dawkins, Keri Debose, Harper DeLaigle, Ashlyn Dial, Reagan Dooley, Kooper Dooley, Blakely Duarte-Quintanilla, Reese Durden, C.J. Durham, Knox Edwards, Samantha Edwards, Bradley Eubanks, Lyla James Fasano, Brayden Florida, Carter Frank, Cohen Frye, Isaiah Crispin Fuentes, Audrey Gibson, Ava Gillette, Tayden Glanton, Mia Gonzalez, Grayson Grant, Everly Grantham, Landon Grimes, Nicolas Guerra, Jonah Hadley, Barrett Hadley, Channing Hall, Palmer Harding, Eleanor Harmon, Jasmine Harvey, Sawyer Hillary, Mary Britton Hiott, Hunter Holliday, Ethan Houser, Davis Houston, Christa Hoza, Braxton Hueit, Brynlee Hughes, Kailee Hunter, Stella Hutto, Emersyn Jennings, Makenna Joiner, Stella Jones, Hayes Jordan, Hollis Jordan, Erin Josey, Braydon Kelligan, Emma Key, Oaklyn King, Annika Kinzli, Molly Kirkendohl, Maddux Kirkendohl, Tegan Kurschner, Sadie Leverett, Luke Leverett, Hannah Leverett, Lillian Lucero, Sutton Maness, Skylar Manuel, Edward Marano, Mallory Marks, Luna Mathis, Harrison Maynard, Johannah Maynard, Johannah Maynard, Hudson Maynard, John McCord, Jhournee McKie, Brianna Mejia-Sierra, Shaelyn Miller, Waylon Mitchell, Alexandria Moreno, Tylar Morgan, Bear Morris, Lainey Padgett, Ryan Patrick, Briar Penvose, Oaklee Phillips, Nora Pierce, Wyatt Pinion, Navaeh Platt, Carter Powell, Paisley Powell, Sylvia Price, Ryker Pritchard, Olivia Quarles, Aleezah Rahman, TaylorAnne Redd, Arya Renew, Adelina Reyes, Meagan Reynolds, Zarria Richardson, Matthew Robinson, Laken Rocheleau, Ava Rodriguez, Jacob Rodriguez, Karcyn Rollins, June Rollins, Lily Ryan, Kimber Sanders, Janna Sanders, Emilia Scelsi, Daylyn Shealey, Mia Simmons, Amari Smiley, Aria Smith, Rylee Smith, Shelby Smith, Savannah Smith, Paisley Stachowski, Camryn Stanfield, Avery Stone, Shelby Swearingen, Kenzie Taylor, Colton Todd, Charlotte Trejo, Cianna Turner, Lynlee Tyler, Keelee Ussery, Harley Vogt, Willow Vomund, Kiley Wade, Savannah Waltz, Maddux Wanninger, Ava Ward, Clayton Weeks, Collins Williams, River Williams, Raelyn Williams, Emmie Williams, Kannon Williams, Norah June Willingham, Beau Willis, Kellen Wright and Griffin Yanizeski. W.E. PARKER ELEMENTARY - Emery Adams, Ian Armstrong, Yeily Ponce Augustin, Asher Baker, Samuel Baker, K’imora Bates, Ayden Bettis, Perry Boothe, Talen Brazell, Bryton Broome, Skylar Brown, Paris Brown, Clarissa Butler, Modesty Butler, Bradley Byrd, Kristina Cantey, Anifer Carbajal-Diaz, Leilani Carrillo, Jake Cheatham, Khyler Chinn, Harper Clark, Paxton Cloyd, Jeremiah Cockrell, Hallie Courtney, Jade Cruz Hernandez, Mekhi Davis, Sophia Deluna, Janie Doolittle, Caitlen Doss, Makai Dozier, Keelynd Dukes, Wylee Kate Findley, Braxton Garrett, Nailynn Gary, Whit Gilliam, Clark Green, Carolina Gresham, Joaquin Griffith, Kimberlynn Hammers, Ruthie Hammond, Noah Hardy, Kayleigh Holloway, Mason Holmes, Jalyn Hrab, Elijah Jackson, Leslie Jackson, Jazlyn Lara, Ella Laws, Bobby Laws, Kellyann LeSesne, Forrest Long, Connor Madden, Kennedy Mariano, Aosha Martin, Kori Martin, Serenity Martin, Travis Martin, Bryson Mason, Kayden Mason, Wyatt McDowell, Sofia McKelvin, Jonathan Mitchell, Ciraya Morton, Ryker Nelson, Violet Nickelson, Anastasia Noble-Champion, Tareka Peterson, Quinn Poindexter, Christian Polly, Brandy Randall, Trystan Reynolds, Ava Risher, Layla Ruff, Vaedyn Seger, Vicktor Seger, London Shedrick, Tye Shobert, Aliviah Stephens, Denim Strom, Dayson Strom, London Thomas, Aaliyah Thomas, Alanna Thompson, Kimberly Tolentino-Ordonez, Jax Toteno, Destini Turner, Azzy Varner, William Wammock, John Gabriel Wates, Amyiah White, Savannah White, Korey Williams, Zachariah Wilson, Waylon Wood, Christopher Wright and Sydney Yonce. JET MIDDLE - Gabriela Agustin, Elza Valdez Agustin, Daritza Amaya-Mendez, Travis Asman, Kayla Barfield, Royce Barrs, Levi Black, Payton Blacks, Alayah Bosket, Christopher Bright, Leena Bundrick, Roger Bush, Isabella Cain, Rebecca Carpenter, Emmanuel Palma Cervantes, Emily Chandler, Kelsi Agustin Chavez, Rebecca Childs, Maliyah Chinn, Serenity Christy, Cournaisha Davis, Jesson Fincher, Molly Flemming, Willie Garrett, Javaris Grant, Inari Griffin, Leobardo Lara Guevara, Tyanna Harrison, Joshua Holmes, Joshua Holmes, Braya Jackson, Ta’niylah Jeffery, Willon Jenkins, Tianna Johnson, Taji Johnson, Justin Jones, Charlotte Jones, Opollo Key, Hannah Kring, Javion Langford, Kinsley Lawton, Ashlyn Legrand, Kinsley Logue, Kitara Lozier, Serenity Maddox, Treshawn Martin, A’mya Martin, Christopher Mason, Truman Massey, Traliya Mathis, Kendall Mathis, Elenore McAllister, Jayden Merriweather, Gonzalo San Miguel-Leon, Janayiah Moore, Lynzie Morgan, A’mya Mose, Isbel Murrell, Ava Myers, Ja’Mari Nelson, Gillian O’Gorman, Lindy O’Sullivan, Alaia Padgett, Miriell Palma, Bella Palma, Ka’Tora Peterson, Andrew Porch, Alexis Pressley, Sarah Price, Dustin Reynolds, Kenzie Robinson, Tyler Rose, Isabella Roton, Lacon Ryan, Jesus Garcia Santos, Ashely Garcia Santos, Jacelynn Seger, Annie Kay Segler, Chaz Shiver, Braylon Simpkins, Allie Grace Smith, Logan Smith, Olivia Stevens, Alayiah Tolen, Jaden Tolen, Raegan Toole, Aria Toteno, Madison Turner, Eisley Varner, Ingrid Gueuara Vazquez, Ezekial Watkins, Lane Whatley, Ashton Williams, Madelyn Wilson, Mekhi Wright and Jose Velasco Zamora. MERRIWETHER MIDDLE - Conner Blair, Priscilla Bratton, Jasmine Broadwater, Caidyn Brown, Addie Bustamante, Emily Calzada, Kaylen Chance, Charity Coaxum, Marilyn Rose Crispin, Haley Culpepper, Jamie Elliott, Savannah Fulmer, Skylar Gregory, Anna Hager, Cameron Hammond, Colbie Harville, Mary Claire Hendrix, Jessie Holliday, Tessa Houk, Braxton Howard, Gracelynn Keltz, JJ Kyler, Rashad Lee, Jesse Longshore, Ameerah Lott, Brayden Lowman, Shelby Machado, Madi Messina, Lacy Nason, Jayceon Pixley, Brylee Posey, Zamiyah Richardson, Leo Rodrigues, Jaxon Rousseau, Christopher Ruiz-Belliard, Evie Schwarz, Haley Serrano, Natalie Shealy, Melia Smith, Brooklynn Snodgrass, Cecelia Sprouse, Kearstin Staley, Khloee Taylor, Hailey Terwilliger, Cash Timmons, Angel Trujillo, Lily Varnador, Roman Vaugn, Elijah White, Blake Wiggins, Charlotte Wiggins, Madison Wilson and Lily Womack. STROM THURMOND HIGH - Mary Hamilton, Delaney Norton, Eric Cardenas, Selina Carter, Taylor Mealing, Emma Smith, Cassidy Tilson, Faith Johnson, Olivia O'Gorman, Amiyah Quales, Jennyfer Peraza, Chloe Castle, Jada Collier, Ivana Restrepo- Sorroza, David Vazquez, Hailey Sperringer, Jennyfer Flores, Londyn Tolber, Joseph Coaxum, A'miracle Norris, Precious Campbell and Taylor Long. 

 

Johnston, SC – Edgefield County School District (ECSD) hosted its most recent Staff Development Day on Friday, March 14, 2025, with professional learning taking place all across the school district.

An ongoing school district training entitled “Teaching Students of Poverty” and facilitated by Dr. Tammy Pawloski from the Center of Excellence at Francis Marion University met at Johnston-Edgefield-Trenton (J-E-T) Middle and included J-E-T Middle teachers and a team of teachers from Merriwether Middle School (MMS).

The teachers began a year-long study in August focused on understanding and responding to student achievement barriers and each month during the 2024-25 school year they’ve met to examine a single achievement barrier in detail. 

“We’ve learned about the impact of that specific barrier on the brains of our students and then explored strategies designed to remove those negative impacts,” stated J-E-T Middle School Principal Debbie Courtney.

Each teacher then designs “action research” to study implementation of the new strategies in one-to-one student supports. 

This model and content is unique as it is grounded by educational neuroscience or the science of learning, or how brains learn and what conditions either enhance or inhibit desired brain development and student engagement.  It is based on the belief that when teachers better understand how brains learn, they are more effective in guiding students toward success. 

The day also included two Lexia LETRS® Science of Reading elementary-level training sessions, one hosted by Merriwether Elementary (MES) and a second held at W.E. Parker Elementary (WEP). The sessions were led by Lexia LETRS® professional learning facilitators Katie McCabe at MES and Connie Stancil at WEP.

The Lexia LETRS® (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) Suite is professional learning designed to provide early childhood and elementary educators and administrators with deep knowledge to be literacy and language experts in the science of reading and Structured Literacy. It is a state required training, and All ECSD elementary educators who have not already completed the two-year program participate in one of these two cohorts.

In other areas of the school district, collaborative planning teams including elementary school fine arts teachers, met to discuss plans for the remainder of the school year and upcoming spring intersession programming.

Freshman and career academy teacher teams at Strom Thurmond High School (STHS) worked on cross-curricular pacing guides, while lead academy teachers met for fourth quarter interdisciplinary and intervention planning.  

Johnston, SC – Kristin Risher began her career in education as a music teacher and marching band director who strived to equip her students with the knowledge and skills to perform with precision and excellence. Nearly two decades later, she continues to hit those same notes, only now with students, teachers, and parents as a school administrator.

Members of the Edgefield County Board of Education approved Risher’s appointment as principal of Strom Thurmond High School for the 2025-26 school year during Tuesday evening’s regularly scheduled March meeting. She currently serves as principal of Paul Knox Middle School in North Augusta, S.C.

Strom Thurmond High School Principal Fran Altringer has announced her retirement following the 2024-25 school year.

Risher spent the formative years of her educational career at Silver Bluff High School and says similarities between the schools and communities presented her with a uniquely attractive professional opportunity.

“I’m really excited to have this opportunity because it really aligns with everything I love about school and education,” stated Risher. “It's almost like coming home for me because Strom Thurmond reminds me of my time at Silver Bluff. They are similar communities and small, rural schools where it feels like a family and everyone knows each other, and to me that is what school, and community is all about.”

Her educational background includes a Master of Education in Education Leadership from Georgia Regents University and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of South Carolina. She also served as an assistant principal and interim principal at North Augusta High School (2018 to 2023). Her honors and awards include being named Advocate of The Year by the Palmetto State School Counselor Association (2024), being a multiple-year Assistant Principal of the Year Nominee (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024), and a Teacher of the Year (2016).

Risher says before the position at Strom Thurmond High School for the 2025-26 school year had opened, she and her husband, Shawn, began looking for property in Edgefield County, fulfilling a longtime goal for their family.

“My husband is originally from Edgefield County, and we've talked for a long time about buying some land and him going back home,” commented Risher. “We've talked about how awesome serving as principal at Strom Thurmond High School would be and I’m just thrilled and excited to have this opportunity.”

She says she’s also been blessed to serve as principal at Paul Knox Middle School, which will only strengthen her connection with the teams at Merriwether Middle School and Johnston-Edgefield-Trenton (J-E-T) Middle School.

“It's been a good learning curve for me, professionally, and I'm glad I’ve been able to see and experience both sides of secondary education,” stated Risher. “It's important that I'm able to understand where students at the high school are coming from, how that translates to the high school. This experience as a middle school principal will serve me well.”

When asked what she enjoys most about serving as a principal, Risher says everything goes back to why she decided to move into school administration in the first place, in having an even greater opportunity to help others.

“I enjoy removing barriers for teachers and staff so they can go and do what it is they do best,” commented Risher. “I can do the same thing for students and help ensure they have the resources they need to be successful. I get to make sure all those things align together, and that's what I love most about being a principal.”

“I'm really excited because I’ve been on the outside looking in (at Strom Thurmond), whenever I attended an event or football game, and now I get to come in and be a part of it,” she added. “I think it's going to be a nice breath of fresh air.” 

Congratulations to recent Edgefield-McCormick County Adult Education graduate, Brennen Paul.

Brennen is college ready and excited to embrace future success after completing his high school equivalency examination in February.

If you are interested in pursuing a similar pathway to Brennen, please reach out to Edgefield-McCormick County Adult Education and Family Literacy at Johnston Learning Center by phone at (803) 275-4158.

The Johnston Learning Center is located at 117 Cardinal Drive in Johnston, South Carolina.