Six candidates are vying for the Republican nomination, hoping to become South Carolina’s next Superintendent of Education. It comes after the current Superintendent of Education opted not to run again. According to U.S. News and World Report, South Carolina ranks 42nd in the nation in Pre-K to 12. Monday morning, Spearman endorsed former teacher Kathy Maness. Maness is the Executive Director of the Palmetto State Teachers Association, which is South Carolina’s largest teachers group. Ellen Weaver of Greenville is leading the candidates in fundraising. Before her run for office, Weaver worked with former U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint and later launched the Palmetto Promise Institute. “I’ve spent 20 years now working with leaders in Washington, working with leaders in Columbia,” Weaver said. “I understand how the process works and I believe that I can deliver common-sense solutions.”Weaver said she’s concerned with results from the current system.”Our system is in crisis after COVID,” she said. “Two-thirds of our kids are not reading or doing math on grade level. Our teachers are tired and stressed out (and) our parents are frustrated.”Travis Bedson is CEO of CNT Foundations, a construction company. He said he wants to put more funds in the classroom and increase support for teachers. “I have a one-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old daughter and I started looking at their educational prospects and I didn’t like what I saw,” Bedson said. “I see a crisis that is really at a precipice in South Carolina’s education system and it’s going to take somebody with enough executive leadership experience because that’s what this office is really about. It’s about leadership. It’s not about how long you spend in the classroom.” Lynda Leventis-Wells is on the Greenville County School Board. “I have worked in both law enforcement and education. My responsibilities over the years have ranged from hands-on coaching and teaching to community leadership positions which required an understanding of the big picture, a necessary trait for a Superintendent,” Leventis-Wells said. WYFF News 4 has reached out to Kathy Maness, Kizzy Gibson, Kathy Maness and Bryan Chapman to learn more about their campaigns.Lawmakers have now mandated that superintendents of Education have at least a Master’s Degree. Weaver is currently in the process of obtaining hers. WYFF News 4 will provide a preview of the three Democratic candidates for Superintendent of Education Tuesday.
Six candidates are vying for the Republican nomination, hoping to become South Carolina’s next Superintendent of Education.
It comes after the current Superintendent of Education opted not to run again.
According to U.S. News and World Report, South Carolina ranks 42nd in the nation in Pre-K to 12.
Monday morning, Spearman endorsed former teacher Kathy Maness. Maness is the Executive Director of the Palmetto State Teachers Association, which is South Carolina’s largest teachers group.
Ellen Weaver of Greenville is leading the candidates in fundraising.
Before her run for office, Weaver worked with former U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint and later launched the Palmetto Promise Institute.
“I’ve spent 20 years now working with leaders in Washington, working with leaders in Columbia,” Weaver said. “I understand how the process works and I believe that I can deliver common-sense solutions.”
Weaver said she’s concerned with results from the current system.
“Our system is in crisis after COVID,” she said. “Two-thirds of our kids are not reading or doing math on grade level. Our teachers are tired and stressed out (and) our parents are frustrated.”
Travis Bedson is CEO of CNT Foundations, a construction company.
He said he wants to put more funds in the classroom and increase support for teachers.
“I have a one-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old daughter and I started looking at their educational prospects and I didn’t like what I saw,” Bedson said. “I see a crisis that is really at a precipice in South Carolina’s education system and it’s going to take somebody with enough executive leadership experience because that’s what this office is really about. It’s about leadership. It’s not about how long you spend in the classroom.”
Lynda Leventis-Wells is on the Greenville County School Board.
“I have worked in both law enforcement and education. My responsibilities over the years have ranged from hands-on coaching and teaching to community leadership positions which required an understanding of the big picture, a necessary trait for a Superintendent,” Leventis-Wells said.
WYFF News 4 has reached out to Kathy Maness, Kizzy Gibson, Kathy Maness and Bryan Chapman to learn more about their campaigns.
Lawmakers have now mandated that superintendents of Education have at least a Master’s Degree. Weaver is currently in the process of obtaining hers.
WYFF News 4 will provide a preview of the three Democratic candidates for Superintendent of Education Tuesday.