Angela Bain named Chester County schools superintendent
Nearly four months after hiring Angela Bain as interim superintendent, the Chester County school board has made her the district’s permanent leader.
Sandra Stroman, vice chairman of the Chester County school board, said members voted 4-1 Monday to name Bain superintendent.
Board member Denise Lawson voted against the hire, while board member Laurens Fort Jr. abstained from the vote, Stroman said.
Stroman said the board hired Bain, a retired S.C. Department of Education deputy superintendent, on a three-year contract with an annual salary of $165,000.
Stroman said she wanted to “put to bed” the turmoil over the departure of former Superintendent Agnes Slayman, who resigned under pressure in September after a report commissioned by the board found she bullied employees and created a hostile work environment.
Bain “has brought stability to our district,” Stroman said.
Lawson, Fort and other board members could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Bain, 57, was out of the office Tuesday and also could not be reached for comment.
She said in a prepared statement that “my husband and I are looking forward to being an active part of the Chester County community, and I am excited about the possibilities in the Chester County School District.
“I appreciate the confidence that the board has shown in me, and am honored to be the superintendent for Chester County schools,” the statement said.
Bain retired from the state education post in September. She was hired for the Chester interim leadership post in January with a unanimous school board vote.
Bain replaced the district’s first interim superintendent, Keith Callicutt, who announced in early January that he would leave at the month’s end because he was “not the right person for the job.”
Stroman said board members were pleased with Bain’s performance and asked her if she would consider taking the job on a permanent basis.
Stroman said the decision to hire Bain also saves the school district the estimated $25,000 to $30,000 cost of conducting a search.
“We have been very pleased with what she has done with our district,” Stroman said. “She just seems to fit very well here.”
Bain graduated from Rock Hill High School in 1976.
She served as deputy state superintendent for educator effectiveness and as a human resources officer in Lexington and Richland county schools.
She has taught math, science, language arts and social studies in elementary school through ninth grade, and has worked as an education instructor at Converse College and the University of South Carolina. She also has worked as an assistant principal, principal and supervisor of special services.
Jennifer Becknell: 803-329-4077
Chester schools name new HR leader, promotions at 3 schools
The Chester County school district has announced four administrative promotions.
The following promotions will be effective July 1:
▪ Wendell Sumter has been named the chief human resources and teacher quality officer. He has served as principal at Great Falls Middle School and Great Falls Elementary School for 10 years. He is entering his 26th year in education.
▪ Sheka Houston has been named principal at Chester Middle School. She has served as an assistant principal there for the past six years and has been in education for 13 years. She has spent her entire career in Chester and is a Chester native.
▪ Dorothy Dae has been named assistant principal of Great Falls Elementary. She has been as interim assistant principal at the school for the past school year. She has been in education for more than 27 years, and has served in North Carolina as a teacher, assistant principal and principal.
▪ KaRon Webb has been named assistant principal at Chester High School. He has spent the last three years at Spring Valley High School in administration. Before that, Webb was a math teacher in Richland County District 2.
Staff reports
Rock Hill schools announce district administrative promotion, changes
Rock Hill Schools Superintendent Kelly Pew has announced a reorganization of responsibilities for district administrators.
Brian Vaughn has been promoted to executive director of facilities services after serving as director for six years. He has worked in the district since 1997 and served as facilities manager until 2010.Vaughn will manage the district bus fleet in addition to his other responsibilities.
Pew has made the following changes effective July 1:
▪ The technology department will report to Deputy Superintendent Tony Cox.
▪ Elementary and secondary school guidance services will report to Jill Pappas, executive director of elementary education, and Bill Cook, executive director of secondary education, respectively.
▪ Associate Superintendent Luanne Kokolis will add the management of 4-year-old and and 5-year-old kindergarten enrollment, serve as additional support for two middle school principals and work to enhance the district’s alternative programs including Rebound, Renaissance and Phoenix. She will support and encourage schools’ efforts in applying for state and national recognitions while supporting school and district programs.
Staff reports
This story was originally published May 17, 2016 at 5:33 PM with the headline "Angela Bain named Chester County schools superintendent."