District names Harris RBHS assistant principal

On July 20, 2021, the Lexington County School District One Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Terrence L. Harris as assistant principal of River Bluff High School. Harris comes to Lexington District One from Richland School District Two, where he served as assistant administrator at Spring Valley High School since 2019.

Harris began his career in education as a social studies teacher at Mauldin High School in Greenville County Schools. As a teacher, Harris emphasized the importance of higher-order thinking skills, including historical empathy, critical thinking and simulations. He served as the social studies department chair for the school’s Freshman Academy. He also served as head coach of the Boys’ Track and Field Program as well as assistant coach of C-team football.

After a promotion to assistant administrator of Northwest Middle School in Travelers Rest, S.C., in 2010, Harris moved to J. L. Mann High School in Greenville to serve as the school’s assistant administrator in 2012. In 2013, Harris joined the staff at James F. Byrnes High School in Spartanburg District Five as the school’s assistant principal. In 2015, Harris moved to Fairfield Middle School in Winnsboro, S.C., to serve as assistant principal, where he was promoted in 2017 to the position of principal, serving until 2019.

As a school administrator, Harris created a schoolwide progressive discipline policy that led to a reduction in major disciplinary issues. He also oversaw the implementation of an AVID elective program to improve student outcomes and provide selected students with exposure to college and career opportunities.

Harris graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in history in 2003. He also received a master’s degree in teaching, secondary education–social studies in 2004, as well as a master’s degree in education, educational administration and supervision in 2010, both from the University of South Carolina.