4 candidates vie for Clarendon School District 2 superintendent position

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MANNING - The search for a new superintendent for Clarendon School District 2 schools was narrowed down to four candidates last week, according to the CSD2 Board of Trustees.

"The board is pleased to present four highly qualified candidates for this crucial leadership position," said CSD2 Board Chairman Kimberly O. Johnson. "Each of the candidates demonstrates the qualities that we believe are important for the superintendent as we continue our pursuit of preparing our students to be successful. We are eager for our community members and staff to interact with the candidates on their designated day in our district and community."

During the week of Feb. 4, each of the four candidates will be presented to the public and introduced to the CSD2 staff. Each candidate's visit will include a meeting with the district's staff and a reception with the community. At the end of the visit, the board will conduct a final interview with the candidate. At the end of February, the board will announce its decision on the district's new superintendent.

The board announced that Chander Anderson, Shawn Johnson, Valarie Denise Williams and Martin I. Wright will be making their visits to Clarendon County beginning Feb 4.

According to his resume, Anderson is a 1995 graduate of Claflin University with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. Anderson also holds a Master's in Educational Leadership from Nova Southern University, an Education Specialist degree and a Doctorate in Education from Wingate University.

Anderson began his career in education as a teacher in the Broward County School District where he taught for six years before assuming the duties of assistant principal in the district. From 2004-13, Anderson was a principal at Florence School District One/Broward County School District. From 2013-15, Anderson was the executive director of personnel at Chesterfield County School District. In 2015, Anderson became an assistant superintendent at Chesterfield County School District, and in 2018, he became an online adjunct professor at Grand Canyon University.

Anderson's resume lists that he's involved in school athletics, having served as head coach for girls basketball at Sneed Middle School and assistant coach for varsity boys basketball at Piper High School. He is also involved in the community having worked with Florence House of Hope Inc., Chesterfield County March of Dimes and the Chesterfield County United Way of America. Anderson is also the associate minister and youth pastor at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church. He's a graduate of Leadership Florence, and he's been involved with the Chesterfield Coordinating Council, the Chesterfield County Association for School Administrators and the South Carolina School Administrators Association. He is also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.

Dr. Shawn Johnson is a 2000 graduate of Coastal Carolina University with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. Johnson earned a Master's degree in Divergent Learning from Columbia College and a Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Supervision from Winthrop University. In 2011, Johnson earned his degree as an Educational Specialist in Educational Administration from South Carolina State University and in 2013 he earned his Doctorate in Education from SCSU.

Johnson is the superintendent at Barnwell School District 19, a position he has held since 2016.

From 2012-16, he was the principal at Dillon High School in Dillon School District Four. From 2012-15, he served as chairman of Marion County School Board. From 2010-12, Johnson was principal at Gordon Elementary School in DSD4. From 2007-10, Johnson was principal at Plantersville Elementary School in the Georgetown County School District. From 2006-07, he was the assistant principal at Palmetto Middle School in the Marion School District. From 2004-06, Johnson was the assistant principal at Latta Elementary School in Dillion School District Three. From 2003-04, he was a classroom teacher at Latta Elementary School. From 2001-03, Johnson was a seventh- and eighth-grade science and mathematics classroom teacher at Terrell's Bay High School in Marion District Seven.

From 2016-17, Johnson was recognized at the Superintendent of the Year for Region IIIA. In 2015, he was president of the South Carolina High School League Class 2A Conference and a member of the league's executive committee. Johnson was the winner of the Closing the Achievement Gap Award in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2014. He earned the Palmetto Gold Award in 2014 and the Palmetto Silver Award in 2009 and again in 2010. He was also named the South Carolina Administrator of the Year by High School Sports Report in 2014.

Throughout his career, Johnson's athletic teams have been successful on the basketball court. While head coach of the Dillon High School girls basketball team from 2011-16, they were conference champions as well as lower state runner-up. As head coach at Latta High School from 2003-06, the varsity boys basketball team was conference champion runner-up. From 2001-03, Johnson was the athletic director at Marion School District Seven where he also served as head coach of the junior varsity basketball team and was named Region Coach of the Year. The team also earned honors as the conference champions. While at Marion High School from 2000-01, Johnson coached the varsity girls basketball team as well as the junior varsity team and became the region co-conference champions. From 1999-2000, Johnson coached the girls varsity and junior varsity teams at Britton's Neck High School in Marion School District Seven. His team earned the regional conference championship, and he was named the Regional Coach of the Year. In 1998 and 2000, Johnson's girls basketball team earned the region conference championship, and he was named the Region Coach of the Year in 1999 and again in 2000.

Johnson has served the New Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Mechanicsville as its pastor since 2009.

Dr. Valarie Denise Williams graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics/Secondary Education from St. Augustine College in 1991. In 1995, she earned her School Business Management Certification from East Carolina University. In 1995, Williams received her Master's in Business Administration from ECU, and in 1998, she earned her degree as an Educational Specialist from ECU. In 2004, Williams earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership-curriculum and Teaching from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Williams is the assistant superintendent/curriculum and instruction in Scotland County Schools in North Carolina, a position she's held since 2014. From 2011-14, Williams was principal/strategic staffing at Whitewater Middle School in Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Schools. From 2009-11, she was principal/strategic staffing at Vance High School in CMCS. From 2007-2009, Williams served as principal/instructional leader at Cochrane Middle School in CMCS. From 2004-07, she was principal at Philo Middle School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. From 1999-04, Williams was assistant principal at Northeast Middle School in Greensboro, North Carolina. From 2008-13, Williams was a graduate school level professor at Gardner Webb University in Charlotte. She was an adjunct professor at Winston Salem State University from 2006-08 and a business/computer instructor at Randolph Community College in Asheboro, North Carolina. From 1998-99, Williams was an assistant principal at Clayton Middle School in Clayton, North Carolina. From 1992-98, she was a seventh- and eighth-grade math teacher at Toisnot Middle School in Wilson, North Carolina, and from 1994-96, she was a business instructor at Wilson Technical Community College in Wilson.

Williams has earned numerous honors during her career, including Aspiring Superintendents Programs, Distinguished Leadership Program, Emerging Leaders Program, Urban Education Leaders, Learning Focus Coach and Trainer and others. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

Dr. Martin L. Wright graduated from Claflin University in 1997 with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. In 2005, he earned a Master's in Technology in Education. In 2007, he earned his Certification as an Education Specialist in Administration and Supervision from Lincoln Memorial University.

Wright is the Superintendent of Schools for Hampton County School District 2, a position he has held since 2014. From 2013-14, Wright was Deputy Superintendent for Teaching and Learning at HCSD2. From 2011-13, he was the principal/turnaround leadership at Estill Elementary in HCSD2. From 2010-12, Wright was principal at Lady's Island Middle School in Beaufort. From 2007-10, Wright was the principal at Quitman County K-12 Schools in Georgetown, Georgia. From 2006-07, he was the assistant principal at Luella Elementary School in McDonough, Georgia. From 2005-06, Wright was the assistant principal at Luella Middle School in McDonough. Wright also taught at four schools in Georgia from 1997-05.

Wright is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the Association of Positive Behavior Support, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement-Rising Stars Leadership Initiative, Middle Level Association, National Association of Elementary School Principals, South Carolina Association of School Administrators and others.

One of these educators will step into the shoes of an educator who has been serving the students of Clarendon County for 17 years, John Tindal.

On Oct. 1, 2018, the CSD2 board of trustees announced that Tindal will be leaving the district on June 30, 2019.

"Mr. Tindal has been an excellent leader for Clarendon Two during his distinguished career," Johnson said. "The board thanks Mr. Tindal for his dedication and service to the students, families and overall Manning community."

Johnson asked that the entire CSD2 community join the board in thanking Tindal for his service and wishing him and his family well in his future.

Johnson said that in the board's search for Tindal's replacement that they "can attract another steady and highly qualified superintendent."

Johnson said that the board was aided in its search for a new superintendent by the South Carolina School Boards Association.