‘Right time and right place’: Fort Mill is losing a well-known high school principal.
A long-time high school principal from Fort Mill will leave to become a superintendent in Anderson County.
Anderson School Dist. 4 and its superintendent Joanne Avery posted on their Facebook pages that the school board unanimously voted Monday night to appoint Dee Christopher as the next superintendent. Christopher will begin Dec. 1 as superintendent elect and will work with Avery ahead of her retirement, according to the posts.
Christopher moved to Catawba Ridge High School when it opened last year, after a dozen years as principal at Fort Mill High School. He is a Furman University graduate with graduate degrees from the Citadel and University of South Carolina. Christopher’s three children came through the Fort Mill School District before heading to Clemson and South Carolina.
In a statement in the post, Anderson Dist. 4 school board chairman Tom Dobbins said there were several excellent candidates but Christopher is the pick.
“The board is confident Mr. Christopher will continue to lead our schools in the progressive and positive manner to which we are accustomed,” Dobbins said. “Mr. Christopher is knowledgeable about our district and community, having been raised and educated in Anderson County. He presented us with intriguing, well-conceived ideas to address the needs of our district and students. Moreover, he has the experience, attitude, and leadership abilities to cross all lines and continue the cohesive culture of excellence in our district. We are excited to welcome Mr. Christopher back to Anderson County.”
Christopher is the most tenured high school principal in the Fort Mill School District, though his current school is the newest. Dating back to his time at Fort Mill High School, Christopher has been a principal here since before Nation Ford High School was founded in 2007, and well before Catawba Ridge High School came last year as the third in the district.
“I preceded two of three high schools in Fort Mill,” he said Tuesday morning.
Christopher won’t soon forget the experience.
“Fort Mill is home and Fort Mill shaped ‘DeeChris’ into a better version — one that was a better principal, but also husband, father and friend,” Christopher said. “The students, awesome teachers and administrators, and families have always been so gracious to me and the memories will last a lifetime. My family has benefited greatly from our schools as all three of our children are graduates.”
Still, Christopher realizes a new goal in heading to Anderson County.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to lead a top ranked school district in South Carolina in Anderson School District 4,” he said. “This step has been a goal of mine since I started in public education 30 years ago. Anderson 4 is a great place, with a great family atmosphere, big opportunities for students, and the community values education.”
Christopher grew up in Anderson County and now will be closer to family, too.
“This move is the right time and right place for me to make this change,” he said.
Christopher’s wife, Julie, teaches biology at Fort Mill High School. Dee Christopher will begin as superintendent elect in Anderson Dist. 4 this December and take over in full next March.
Chuck Epps, superintendent of the Fort Mill district, said news of Christopher leaving is a mix of pride and sadness.
“The district has been truly fortunate to have had Dee Christopher serve our community for more than 14 years,” Epps said. “He has played an integral role in the development of multiple generations of students and the creation of an outstanding culture at two district high schools. While we are saddened that he will be leaving the district, we are also proud of him for assuming this new role in the Anderson School Dist. 4.”
Epps said Christopher will bring enthusiasm and dedication to education in his new role, and will make a positive impact on students and staff there. School officials in Fort Mill will have the task of replacing Christopher at Catawba Ridge.
“The district will begin the process for identifying Mr. Christopher’s replacement at Catawba Ridge High School,” Epps said. “While replacing his years of experience and skills as an educator will be a tough task, we are confident that his successor will be someone that can continue his excellent work and lead the school into this new phase.”
This story was originally published September 22, 2020 at 7:57 AM.
