Mrs. Lynn Carter Stroble, a longtime educator from Colleton County, grew up in Hendersonville and attended elementary school there. Stroble says, “From my first days in Sunday School at Salem Methodist Church, I loved school! In elementary, middle, and high school, I would volunteer to be an office helper, and I also loved tutoring others. Since we only had one class per grade with students at different levels, even in second grade, I remember having a small group of first graders that I was able to help, as we were becoming better readers together. My sixth-grade teacher, the late Mrs. Thelma Lynah, told me that she wanted me to go to college to become a math teacher like she was, and she gave me my own math group to tutor after she taught the math lesson to all of us.” It appears the term “grow our own teachers” is not a new idea, but was alive and well even back in the 70’s here in the Low Country.
After graduating as Salutatorian, Student Council President, and Bus Driver of the Year from Walterboro High in 1981, Stroble attended the College of Charleston to pursue a math degree. She came straight back to Colleton County to teach students math in 1985, and served in at least 8 different roles throughout the school system until 2019, before being elected as a School Board Trustee in 2022.
During her career she only wanted to be an effective teacher for math students, but decided to pursue her Masters Degree in Administration from The Citadel, after the late Coach Doug Bullock encouraged her to join a group, including Mayor Bill Young, that were traveling there for classes after school and during the summers.
She discovered as a math teacher that many students were more interested in math when they could see how it related to their future careers. So she was excited after 12 years of teaching, when she had the opportunity to move from the math classroom to the Colleton Area Vocational School as director. “I enjoyed being where students could apply their academics and learn a trade to prepare them to go straight to work, college, or the military.” During her five years there, the name was changed to Thunderbolt Career & Technology Center (TCTC) to honor the Tuskegee Airmen that trained at the airport near by.
Following that, she served as the interim principal at the high school the year Ruffin High and Walterboro High merged to become Colleton County High School, and she then transitioned to Forest Circle Middle School and enjoyed being there for six years as principal, as well as an instructional coach for teachers.
Stroble’s true love was the classroom, “I was always wanted to go back to the classroom with my math students before I retired. So year 25 of my career, I went back to the classroom to teach students math in the Freshman Academy, and Thunderbolt Career Center, where I started preparing a few more students for their future careers after success with Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry. While some folks might feel that was a demotion, for me being with my students was always my greatest blessings.“
Her last assignment was as an instructional coach mentoring new teachers coming into the high school and across the district. She adds, “I enjoyed supporting teachers that were working with our students, that came from a different part of the country or even another country so they too learned to love our students. This also was a highlight of my career.” As always, I still have a passion for helping our students see how their future careers using their God given talents are related to them getting the best education they can. I enjoy being a part of that and watching our community grow with economic development. I’m very excited about the things that are on the horizon for our community, and helping to get a new workforce ready. It’s a ripple effect, as we build a stronger tax base and a stronger workforce, we can help our educational system and our citizens of Colleton more.”
I asked where Stroble would like to see the school district in five years. She said, “In five years, I would like to see us having returned to a more career focused curriculum that builds on the strengths of each student and how they learn best. Students need a clear understanding of how their strengths and academics can get them to a better place, such as college, the military, or straight to a career. I think we should give students and even the teachers opportunities to explore and travel to some of the businesses, to see what is needed in the workplace. I’m excited to see how our community can come together for all of our students and our businesses to excel. I also hope we can strategically grow economic development in a way that we keep our small town feeling, and that we don’t get overpopulated in any one particular area, so that we can continue to enjoy the beauty that God created for us in Colleton County.”
When she is not at a school or community function, Stroble enjoys being with her family, growing flowers, and taking photos of sunrises and sunsets to remind her that God is still in charge and makes all things beautiful, if we will just take time to look and listen to Him. We all have assignments to fulfill for Him, and should strive to hear, “well done good and faithful servant”, according to Matthew 25: 21,23!
