Rivers, Clamp become SCASA Principals of the Year
November 29, 2017
In surprise early morning announcements at Pleasant Hill Middle School and River Bluff High School on Tuesday, November 28, the South Carolina Association of School Administrators named Dr. Thomas E. Rivers, Pleasant Hill Middle School Principal, the 2018 South Carolina Middle Level Principal of the Year and Dr. Lucas C. Clamp, River Bluff High School Principal, the 2018 South Carolina Secondary Principal of the Year.
Both Dr. Clamp and Dr. Rivers were selected from outstanding fields of administrator candidates by a veteran panel of judges. The criteria used in the selection of this coveted award are set and sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. State sponsors include Horace Mann and Herff Jones.
“We are pleased to announce that Dr. Thomas Rivers has been named the SCASA Middle Level Principal of the Year,” said Beth Phibbs, Executive Director of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators. “He is a collaborative leader who is respected and appreciated by his students, teachers, staff and parents.”
“Dr. Rivers does an amazing job creating an environment where our students and staff can thrive. His dedication to the success of each child is inspiring,” said Lexington School District One Superintendent, Dr. Greg Little.
Dr. Thomas E. Rivers has 21 years education experience and began his career in 1996 as coordinator of multicultural student affairs at the University of South Carolina. He began teaching there a year later. In 1999, he became the interim director of multicultural student affairs at the University of South Carolina.
In 2000, Rivers joined the South Carolina Department of Education’s Office of Curriculum and Standards as an education associate. There he participated in the development and implementation of curriculum standards and provided leadership, support and staff development to school districts in the areas of social studies and multicultural education.
In 2001, he joined C.A. Johnson High School as dean of academics. He was promoted to assistant principal in 2006. There he worked with the school’s freshman academy and served as site coordinator for the High Schools That Work initiative.
Rivers joined Lexington County School District One as an assistant principal at Gilbert High School in 2008 He was promoted to the position of principal of Pleasant Hill Middle School in 2011.
Rivers was named the 2011 High School Assistant Principal of the Year by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators and Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers in 2006. He received a 2005 Saluting Student Success Award from the S.C. School Boards Association.
Rivers received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from James Madison University, another master’s degree from the University of West Alabama, and his principal certification, educational specialist’s degree and doctorate degree in educational administration from the University of South Carolina.
He is a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, National Association for Secondary School Principals and South Carolina Association of School Administrators.
“We are happy to announce that Dr. Luke Clamp 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 sets high expectations for the students and staff and encourages them to achieve at high levels.”
“Dr. Clamp’s passion for students is infectious. He works tirelessly on their behalf and is committed to their success,” said Lexington School District One Superintendent, Dr. Greg Little.
Dr. Lucas C. Clamp has 15 years of educational experience. He began his career as a chemistry and environmental science teacher and assistant football and baseball coach at Irmo High School in 2002. He became the Dean of Studies — Smaller Learning Communities at Irmo High in 2004 where he developed curriculum for incoming freshmen, a Peer Mentoring Program, Peer Tutoring Center and school-wide staff development.
Clamp joined Lexington County School District One in 2006 as assistant principal at Lexington High School.
He was promoted to principal as the founding leader of River Bluff High School in 2011 and spent the next two years planning innovative high school learning within a Flexible Modular instructional schedule and partnering with EL Education for the learning design. After opening in 2013, River Bluff has seen amazing growth in both student population and achievement.
Clamp received his bachelor’s degree in science from Clemson University and his master’s degree, educational specialist degree in educational administration and doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of South Carolina.
He is a graduate of the South Carolina State Department of Education Assistant Principals Program for Leadership Excellence, SC SDE Developing Aspiring Principals Program, has International Baccalaureate Level 1 Certification in Science and Theory of Knowledge, completed South Regional Education Board training in School Culture, and is a Certified ADEPT/SAFE T Evaluator, Certified CPI Responder, SACS CASI Team Evaluator and Team Chair, and an Eagle Scout.
He is a member of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, South Carolina Association of School Administrators and the Palmetto State Teachers Association.
