Students and families at five School District of Pickens County Schools (SDPC) will be welcomed by a new principal when the 2023-24 school year begins August 1. At the February 27th Board Meeting, new instructional leaders were named at Clemson Elementary, Dacusville Middle, Hagood Elementary, D.W. Daniel High, and Dacusville Middle. The fifth principal position, at Pickens Elementary, following the retirement announcement of current principal Donna Harden, will be named in March.
“The success of a school depends on the effectiveness of the school leader. Our principals are responsible for building a strong culture and articulating a shared vision for engaging and empowering our students,” said SDPC Superintendent Dr. Danny Merck. “I look forward to seeing the impact these leaders will make in their classrooms, schools, and communities.”
The four new principals announced by SDPC are:
Jessica Hendricks - Hagood Elementary
Mrs. Hendricks is currently the assistant principal of Pickens Elementary School, where she has served during the 2022-23 school year. Prior to this, Hendricks was assistant principal at Crosswell Elementary School from 2015-2022. Before becoming an assistant principal, Hendricks taught at Pickens Elementary and Dacusville Elementary. Mrs. Hendricks also coached basketball at Dacusville Middle and Pickens High.
You can read more about Mrs. Hendricks here - http://bit.ly/3Z7ekJx
Nathan Roper - Dacusville Middle
Mr. Roper is currently the assistant principal of Easley High School, where he has served during the 2022-23 school year. Prior to this, Roper was an assistant principal and associate principal at Gettys Middle School from 2016-2022. Before moving into administration, Roper was a Business Education teacher at Easley High School. Mr. Roper also brings experience outside of public education as he served in management in multiple roles in the manufacturing industry.
You can read more about Mr. Roper here - http://bit.ly/41xja48
Adam Russell - D.W. Daniel High
Mr. Russell is currently the assistant principal of Easley High School, where he has served during the 2022-23 school year. Prior to this, Russell served in multiple administrative roles including principal in residence and assistant principal at White Knoll High School in Lexington County School District One from 2012-2022. Before moving into administration, Russell was a Social Studies teacher at Midlands Middle College and Camden High School. Russell also coached varsity soccer at Camden High School.
You can read more about Mr. Russell here - http://bit.ly/3Sya6Ie
David Thompson - Clemson Elementary
Mr. Thompson is currently the principal of Fair-Oak Elementary School, in Oconee County, where he has served since 2017. Prior to this, Thompson was assistant principal at Blue Ridge Elementary School from 2014-2017. Before moving into administration, Thompson was a Physical Education teacher at Spearman Elementary and Townville Elementary. Thompson also served as an assistant varsity baseball coach at Wren High School from 2005-2014.
You can read more about Mr. Thompson here - http://bit.ly/3Z8Zbrc
Shannon Lawton - Pickens Elementary
- Mrs. Lawton is currently the assistant principal of Ambler Elementary School, where she has served during the 2022-23 school year. Prior to this, Lawton was assistant principal at Pickens Elementary School from 2014-2022. During her time as assistant principal, she participated in the SDPC Leadership Academy. Before becoming an assistant principal, taught at A.J. Whittenberg Elementary in Greenville County, and at Homeland Park Elementary and McCants Middle, both in Anderson School District Five. She earned a B.S. in Science from Presbyterian College. In 2001, she obtained her Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary from Wingate University, and in 2011 earned a Master of Arts in School Leadership from Furman University.
- You can read more about Mrs. Lawton here: http://bit.ly/3JrykRN
James Adams - SDPC Director of Student Support and Intervention
- SDPC is excited to announce that Mr. James Adams has been selected as the Director of Student Support & Interventions. As you all know, at Project GO, Mr. Adams developed a program to support students with behavioral needs that negatively impact academic performance for students in grades 6-12. As we see an increase in student needs with mental health across SDPC, we are excited about the resource he will be for our students, families, faculty, and staff.
- You can read Mr. Adams’ full news release here: http://bit.ly/3yoXGcz
These leaders will begin their new positions at the conclusion of the 2022-23 school year (they begin on July 1).