Mid-Year Reviews

This past week, members of the district office instructional staff and I started meeting with principals for mid-year reviews.  During these meetings, we examine achievement data and discuss instructional plans for the remainder of the year.   I am really pleased and impressed with the organized way in which our schools are using data to improve and [...]

Wii at Doby’s Mill

I’ve been meaning to say something for the past couple of days about the article in The State this past week about the way Doby’s Mill Elementary music teacher Helen Krofchick uses Wii technology in her music classes.  This is just another example of how technology can bring resources to the classroom that would not [...]

Donnie Wilson Recognized As Paul Harris Fellow

Yesterday, an anonymous donor enabled the Camden Rotary Club to honor our Chief Financial Officer Donnie Wilson and several other local citizens as Paul Harris Fellows, the highest award possible for Rotarians.  This is tremendously well-deserved honor.  Donnie is one of the most highly regarded CFOs in this state, with good reason.  As a lifelong [...]

Tim Hopkins Recognized

It was a real high point in my week to learn that our Executive Director of Elementary Education, Tim Hopkins, will be recognized with a leadership award by the National Association of Federal Education Program Administrators.  This is a tremendous and very well-deserved honor for Tim.  I know how much work he invests in making [...]

School Board Appreciation Dinner

Prior to last night’s Board meeting, the district’s Teacher Forum hosted its annual “School Board Appreciation Dinner.” It was a really nice event!  Great meal and excellent entertainment by the Pine Tree Hill Tinikling Team (tinikling is a form of rhythmic dance done with with sticks – very cool!).  I greatly appreciate the Teacher Forum [...]

School Board Appreciation Dinner

Tonight I had the opportunity, through the Kershaw County Leadership Council, to participate in a dinner held in appreciation for the Kershaw County School Board.  This was a great setting in which to talk to school board members in a relaxed atmosphere.  I had the chance to speak with School Board member Matt Irick and [...]

Celebration At CHS

The formal ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new facilities at Camden High School was a wonderful community celebration.  The performance by the Kershaw County Show Choir really served to accent the wonderful new auditorium facility.  I was most struck, however, by the remarks by Senator Vincent Sheheen, a CHS graduate, who talked about the many CHS [...]

News Flash!

Ms. Ginger Catoe, principal at Doby’s Mill Elementary, just called to tell me that the DMES Robotics Team had absolutely cleaned up at the regional competition held today!   More info to follow….

Friday…..

I hadn’t been to Bethune Elementary for a few weeks, so I went up on Friday and was really impressed with what the school is doing to adjust instruction in response to the most recent MAP testing.  I was particularly struck with how higher order thinking skills are being used at Bethune to increase student [...]

Kershaw County Dental Association

I was really pleased to be asked to speak at last night’s meeting of the Kershaw County Dental Association.  This is a great group of professionals that gives much to our students through yearly dental screenings and assistance with dental care for indigent childen. These folks do all of this very quietly and without a [...]