Polaris Tech Charter School Executive Director Dr. Melissa Crosby will step down to take care of family medical concerns effective Nov. 30 and Brandi Boseman, the school’s director of teaching and learning, will serve as interim executive director.
Crosby’s resignation was accepted by the school’s board of directors at a special meeting Nov. 17. The board agreed to name Boseman as the new interim director and a national search for a permanent director will start soon. Crosby will continue to work with Polaris Tech in a reduced capacity as an education advisor.
“When we hired Dr. Crosby, we knew we were getting a superstar, and she has exceeded our expectations,” said retired Air Force Gen. Lloyd “Fig” Newton, chair of the Polaris Tech Board of Directors and one of the school’s founders.
“She came here with energy and technical experience that met the approach we envisioned for our new school,” Newton said. “She understood and embraced our board’s short- and long-term goals for the school and the community, and she has helped make a difference in Jasper County and the Lowcountry,” he said.
“We couldn’t ask for anything more and we look forward to tapping her expertise as an advisor in the months ahead,” Newton said.
Crosby, a veteran educator, national board-certified teacher and former director of nationally-recognized Cougar New Tech in Walterboro, joined Polaris Tech in early spring 2018 as its first executive director.
In her more than two years at Polaris Tech, Crosby hired the first staff, helped oversee construction of the school, opened it on time and on budget in summer 2018, and helped grow the school to 300-plus students in grades 5-12.
During her leadership, the school added career pathways ahead of schedule to meet growing local, regional and national demand.
“The past three years have been the most fulfilling years of my career,” Crosby said. “I have worked alongside some of the finest educators and most committed board stakeholders in the country, and the opportunities that I have been afforded to turn the dream of Polaris Tech into a reality are unrivaled.
“When I arrived, I sought to lead in a culture of change. I am pleased to have successfully led the charge to align the school’s mission, vision and beliefs with its operations, develop positive relationships with all stakeholders, foster a culture of collaboration and create strong connections throughout the process,” she said.
Boseman was among the first people Crosby hired to join the fledging staff. Before joining Polaris Tech in 2018, Boseman gained valuable experience as the science facilitator and coach at Cougar New Tech in Colleton County High School in Walterboro. She’s also worked as a middle and high school science teacher since 2008.
For nine years prior to joining the educational world, Boseman worked as the regulatory and safety manager at Floralife chemical company in Walterboro. She earned her master of education in teaching from the University of South Carolina and her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Clemson.
“Dr. Crosby and I have worked together long enough that I know we will move ahead the rest of this school year as planned,” Boseman said. “The pandemic keeps everyone flexible, but we work closely with our students and their families to keep everyone connected. Our focus is on the students at Polaris Tech.”
Polaris Tech is a state-approved charter school serving fifth grade through high school students from Jasper County and the Lowcountry. It is a free school (no tuition) that focuses on preparing young people for successful work and college.
