By HEATHER WALTERS
There are now three finalists in the running to become the next superintendent of schools in Colleton County.
The Colleton County School Board announced on Friday, May 21st, that it had narrowed down the list of candidates for the district’s next superintendent to the top three. These top three candidates are Dr. Vallerie Cave, Dr. Eric Thomas and Dr. Lana Williams.
A community forum with the three finalists was also held on May 25th at the Colleton County High School gym, giving members of the public a chance to watch the final three candidates answer questions from the board and from the community: members of the community were allowed to submit a question to the candidates prior to the Tuesday forum through an online survey.
This forum was also filmed, and can be watched at the Colleton County School District YouTube Channel.
The school board recently hired a marketing firm to begin its formal and nationwide search for a new superintendent. Former Colleton County School District Superintendent Dr. Franklin Foster resigned from the school district in February of 2020. Since His departure, the local school district has been led by interim superintendent John Tindal.
School board members have said they hope to have the district’s new superintendent in place prior to July 1st of this year.
Meet the Finalists
Dr. Vallerie Cave
Dr. Vallerie Cave is currently the associate superintendent for the K-12 School Transformation and Innovation program for the Savannah-Chatham County Public School system in Savannah, Ga.
Her experience also includes being an executive director for this same school system. She is also the former supervisor for the Contributing Faculty Member/University at Walden University in Minnesota and is the former Director of Consulting Services for Information Transport Solutions in Alabama. Cave is a former principal, having served in this role at the Altama Elementary School, Risley Middle School and Risley Early College Academy, all of which are in Brunswick, Georgia. She was also the former director for Special Academic Programs in the Beaufort County School District in Beaufort, S.C.
Cave has a doctorate degree in philosophy from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota; a master of Education degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science-Criminal Justice from the Baptist College of Charleston, which is now called Charleston Southern University in Charleston, S.C.
Dr. Eric Thomas
Thomas is the former Chief Turnaround Officer (Deputy Superintendent) for the Georgia State Board of Education, and is the former Chief Support Officer for the University of Virginia Darden/Curry Partnership for Leaders in Education in Charlottesville, VA.
Thomas is also the former Chief Innovation Officer for the Cincinnati Public Schools System in Cincinnati, Ohio. He served in multiple roles within this Ohio school system, including being an instructor, administrator, teacher, district coordinator, and turnaround coach.
Thomas has a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Concordia University of Chicago and a Master of Education degree in Educational Administration from the University of Cincinnati. He also has a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from the University of Cincinnati, in additional to having earned and Administrator Development Academy (ADA) from this university.
Dr. Lana Williams
Williams is the current director of Star Center for Learning in the Orangeburg County School District. She is also the former Chief Instructional Officer for this same school district. Additionally, she is the former interim superintendent for Orangeburg Consolidated School District Four and is the former Executive Director of Secondary Schools for the Orangeburg Consolidated School District Five.
Previously, Williams also served as a principal and as an assistant principal within in the Orangeburg School District Five. She is also a former middle school teacher.
Williams has an Educational Administration degree from South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, S.C. She has a Masters of Education from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from S.C. State University.
