Horry County School Board Chair
The School Board Chair provides leadership to the Board, ensures the faithful execution of the Board’s processes, exercises interpretive responsibilities with integrity reflecting the spirit and intent of the Board’s policies, and normally serves as the Board’s official spokesperson. Like other Board members, the Chair is elected for a 4-year term.
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Darrell Ricketts
(Rep)
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Melanie Wellons
(Rep)
1. What issue particularly motivates you to serve as Chair, and how will you address it?
2. What are the 2 most important issues facing Horry County Schools, and how will you address them?
3. With all of the challenges that children and teachers face, what mental health resources should be available? How can the district work more collaboratively with community agencies?
Campaign Phone
8433334832
Phone
843-333-4832
As a lifelong educator, I have seen the impact education has on children and the doors it can open for their future. From the Board level I have seen the impact Board actions have on what happens in the classroom every day and as Chair I want to lead the Board in directions that will set high expectations for district staff but also provide the support necessary to help them achieve those expectations for each child. Three areas I want to focus on as Chair are 1) Stakeholder Engagement (both internal and external stakeholders, 2) Expanding Educational Opportunities, and 3) Accountability. I have proven my leadership abilities throughout my career and know that I can use them to make the HCS Board of Education both efficient and effective.
One is our ability to manage the tremendous growth our county is experiencing, and another is meeting the growing diversity among our learners. Continuing to work with county government on identifying growth areas and purchasing land for future schools will ensure that overcrowding is handled in a timely manner. Our growing Special Education (SpEd) and Multilingual (ML) student populations will require that we look at additional support for teachers and alternative delivery methods.
This is an area where it is vital that we create partnerships with local agencies to meet these growing needs. The district has partnered with Waccamaw Mental Health for years in providing school-based counselors. We also provide mental health services to students, teachers, and staff through CARE Solace, which is a service that provides complimentary and confidential treatment options in multiple languages. Continuing to forge partnerships with outside providers will be a priority.
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