The Colleton County Board of Trustees will host the three finalists for Superintendent on Thursday, January 8, 2026. The finalists will spend the day touring the district and meeting with faculty and staff. From 6:00 pm-7:30 pm at the Colleton County High School Performing Arts Center, there will be a question/answer session and an opportunity for the community to meet each candidate.
The three finalists are as follows:
Mr. Raymond “Tripp” Aldredge, III of Hanahan, SC, has served twenty-seven years in education. He currently serves as Principal of Fort Dorchester High School in North Charleston, SC, where he leads a diverse school community of more than 2,300 students and 220 staff members. Under his leadership, Fort Dorchester has earned consecutive “Excellent” ratings on the South Carolina School Report Card, achieved a record 95.5% graduation rate in 2024, and was named the 2022 South Carolina School of Excellence in Art Education and a 2025 Palmetto’s Finest finalist. Before coming to South Carolina, Mr. Aldredge served as Principal of Jay M. Robinson High School and Harris Road Middle School in Cabarrus County, NC. His leadership at Harris Road contributed to its designation as a NC Global Ready School, an International Center for Leadership in Education Model School and was consistently one of North Carolina’s top-performing traditional middle schools.
Mr. Aldredge began his career as a band director, developing nationally recognized music programs and serving as a clinician, adjudicator, and arts advocate across the region. He holds an Educational Specialist degree from The Citadel, a Master of School Administration and Bachelor of Music from East Carolina University and maintains South Carolina certification as a superintendent.
Throughout his career, Mr. Aldredge has been committed to building positive school cultures, expanding opportunities for all students, improving school performance, and strengthening partnerships between schools, families, and the community. He looks forward to engaging with the Colleton County community and supporting its vision for building a world-class school system that ensures all students achieve at high levels.
Mr. George Kiernan of Lexington, SC, has spent thirty years in education. He began his career in North Carolina as a history teacher before moving to New Jersey where he taught history, English and science for seven years. Mr. Kiernan then moved to Calhoun County School District where he has served for twenty years. While in Calhoun County, Mr. Kiernan has served as an assistant principal, principal, and Chief of Human Resources. He currently serves as the Chief of Operations. In this role, he is responsible for district-wide facilities and operations including bid packages, developing five-year facilities plan and budget. He is also responsible for district-wide discipline, Title IX as well as supervising the technology, maintenance, and transportation departments.
Mr. Kiernan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a minor in Secondary Education from Kean University in New Jersey, a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from New Jersey City University in Jersey City, an Education Specialists in Education Administration from South Carolina State University, and he is pursuing a Doctorate in Education in Education Administration from Acacia University in Arizona. Mr. Kiernan is certified as a Superintendent in South Carolina.
Mr. Kiernan looks forward to interacting with faculty, staff and the community on January 8th.
Dr. Will Pickens of Chicago, Illinois, is currently the Deputy Chief of Schools (South Side) in Chicago Public Schools. In this position, he is responsible for the oversight of 33 schools including their academic success, principal professional development, budget, and strategic plan. Of the 33 schools, 23 schools have been identified as commendable and one as exemplary. He began his career as a Title 1 Reading Teacher in Charlotte Mecklenburg before moving to Richland School District 2 in Columbia, SC as an elementary and high school guidance counselor. During his eighteen-year career, Dr. Pickens has also served as a principal and Chief of Administrative Services/Deputy Superintendent.
During his career, Dr. Pickens has fostered community outreach opportunities including a county-wide food distribution for families in need following COVID and “Coffee with the Deputy” encouraging open dialogue between stakeholders and Dr. Pickens. He currently serves on the board of Omega Global Development which builds healthcare systems and schools in Africa.
Dr. Pickens holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a Master of Education in School Counseling from Liberty
University, a Specialist in Education in Educational Leadership from Columbus State University, and a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Professional Studies from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN. Dr. Pickens is certified as a Superintendent in South Carolina.
Dr. Pickens looks forward to being back in Colleton County on January 8th to meet faculty, staff and community members.
Mr. Glenn Nixon, Board Chair, stated that the Board of Trustees looks forward to the return of the three finalists to Colleton County and for stakeholders to have the opportunity to meet them.
