‘An exceptional leader’: A York County school has the top SC high school principal
Clover High School principal Rod Ruth is the 2023 South Carolina Secondary Principal of the Year.
The South Carolina Association of School Administrators named Ruth to the award. Fellow Catawba region principal Jamal Sanders at Great Falls High School in Chester County joined Ruth in the list of three finalists statewide.
Beth Phibbs, executive director of the state association of school administrators, recognized Ruth for offering personalized opportunities for students and helping Clover High to its highest academic achievement and student engagement metrics.
“He is an exceptional leader who demonstrates a never-ending commitment to the success of every student,” Phibbs said in the award announcement.
Sheila Quinn, superintendent of the Clover district, said Ruth is energetic, strategic and fiercely focused on students.
“Rod Ruth exemplifies all of the qualities you want to see in a high school principal,” Quinn said.
Ruth now will represent South Carolina in the National Association of Secondary School Principals competition for National Principal of the Year.
Ruth learned about the win Monday at a surprise event at Clover High, surrounded by family and the school’s senior class. Ruth took over at Clover in 2015. Since, the school earned an excellent state report card rating, scored a 96% graduation rate, been named an AP Honor Roll School and been recognized as a Special Olympics Banner Unified Champion School.
Statewide test score data released this fall shows Clover at or near the top across a variety of high school level metrics. Clover was top three statewide in end of course testing for Algebra 1, English 2 and Biology 1.
Ruth serves on advisory and other boards with community organizations like the Olde English Consortium, Catawba Regional Education Center, All On Board Coalition and South Carolina High School League. Ruth is the 5A vice president for SCHSL.
Prior to Clover High, Ruth served as principal at York Middle School and Moore Intermediate School in Florence. Ruth was assistant principal at Oakridge Middle School in the Clover district and Southside Middle School in Florence. Ruth’s seven years as classroom teacher and coach at Lake City High School include the 2007 Teacher of the Year award there.
Ruth is a Francis Marion University, University of South Carolina and Winthrop University graduate. Ruth is working now toward a doctorate in education systems improvement science from Clemson University.
The state school administrator association has more than 5,000 members. The group works on state and national level issues to support school leaders.
This story was originally published December 6, 2022 at 12:50 PM.
