Two Principals from Lexington-Richland District Five selected for state awards

The South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA) has named two school leaders from Lexington-Richland School District Five as 2019 Middle Level Principal the Year and 2019 Secondary Principal of the Year. Anna Miller, principal of Chapin Middle School, is the 2019 South Carolina Middle Level Principal the Year, and Dr. Michael Lofton, principal of Spring Hill High School, is the 2019 South Carolina Secondary Principal of the Year. Both Mrs. Miller and Dr. Lofton were selected from outstanding fields of administrator candidates by a veteran panel of judges.

The other finalists for Middle Level Principal of the Year were Mary Leslie Anderson, principal of League Academy of Communication Arts in the Greenville County School District and Gary McCulloch, principal of River Ridge Academy in the Beaufort County School District. The criteria used in the selection of this award are set by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. State sponsors are Horace Mann and Herff Jones.

We are pleased to announce that Anna Miller has been named the SCASA Middle Level Principal of the Year,” said Beth Phibbs, Executive Director of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators, “she is a visionary leader who is respected and appreciated by her students, teachers, staff, and parents.”

Dr. Christina Melton, Anna Miller, and Beth Phibbs

Superintendent of Lexington-Richland School District Five, Dr. Christina Melton added, “Anna Miller is an ambassador for the Chapin community, District Five, and public education. Under her leadership, Chapin Middle School was identified as a ‘School to Watch’ in 2016–2017 and deemed a Palmetto’s Finest Winner in 2017–2018.Chapin Middle is a beacon of academic excellence and community engagement. We are proud of Mrs. Miller’s leadership and the Chapin Middle family.”

The other finalists for Secondary Principal of the Year were Daniel Matthews, principal of Camden High School in the Kershaw County School District and Sarah Longshore, principal of Saluda High School in the Saluda County School District. The criteria used in the selection of this award are set by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. State sponsors are Horace Mann and Herff Jones.

Dr. Christina Melton, Dr. Michael Lofton and Beth Phibbs

“We are happy to announce that Dr. Michael Lofton has been named the SCASA Secondary Principal of the Year,” said Beth Phibbs, Executive Director of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators. “He is an exceptional leader who leads by example and encourages the students at Spring Hill High School to achieve at high levels.”

Dr. Christina Melton discusses Dr. Lofton’s impact on Spring Hill High School, “Dr. Lofton is a visionary leader who pioneered the development of a career pathway magnet high school. Spring Hill High is known for a rigorous, successful academic program; however, the secret ingredient is Dr. Lofton’s dedication to building and maintaining relationships with students, staff, and the families of Spring Hill High School. We celebrate Dr. Lofton’s transformational leadership and the impact he is making on the future of each Spring Hill High student.”

SCASA, the professional organization for school leaders in South Carolina, has more than 4,300 members. From professional development opportunities and research, to publications and legislative advocacy, SCASA’s focus is to support school leaders in providing the best possible education for South Carolina’s young people. As a state affiliate of three national associations for school leaders, SCASA also works on the national level. SCASA’s recent state-level winners have gone on to win national awards, including the 2018 Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year, 2018 Secondary Principal of the Year, and 2019 Secondary Principal of the Year.