Laurens County School District 55 Introduces New Elementary School Administrators

Laurens County School District 55 is proud to introduce three new elementary administrators- Haley Adair (Waterloo Elementary School Administrative Assistant), Melissa Entrekin (E.B. Morse Elementary School Assistant Principal), and Merica Dyar (Gray Court-Owings School Elementary Assistant Principal). These school leaders officially took on their new roles on July 1, 2026.

Haley Adair is an innovative educational leader skilled in delivering tailored educational guidance and instruction. She is known for her high productivity and her effective planning and organizational skills. She has been a Waterloo Wren since 2024 and joined as an instructional (reading) coach. She will continue to be an instructional coach on top of her new duty as an administrative assistant. The district is confident that her work and educational background have equipped her to be an effective administrator. Among the positions she held are instructional coach at Waterloo Elementary School, classroom teacher (Montessori, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades) at E.B. Morse Elementary School, and YMCA Site Director/Counselor. Adair holds a Master of Education in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina.

Adair shared, “I am so excited for the opportunity to continue growing and leading at the school I proudly call home. As an instructional leader, I am committed to continuing to support teachers in strengthening instructional practices that promote high levels of student learning and achievement. In the role of Administrative Assistant, I plan to build on the systems we have in place by partnering with staff to foster a positive, collaborative school culture while ensuring consistency in behavior expectations and school-wide initiatives. The Waterloo community is a special place, and I look forward to serving our students, parents, and staff in this new capacity.”

Waterloo Elementary School Principal Emily Parks said, “I am excited to welcome Haley Adair to her new role as Administrative Assistant. For the past two years, Haley has faithfully served our school community as Reading Coach, where she built strong relationships with teachers and made a positive impact on student learning.”

“Haley’s commitment to supporting both teachers and students has been evident throughout her time at Waterloo, and I am confident she will continue to excel in her new position. Her dedication, professionalism, and servant-hearted approach will be a tremendous asset to our team. We look forward to the many ways she will help Waterloo Elementary School continue on its trajectory of success,” added Parks.

E.B. Morse (EBM) Elementary School Principal Magon Wilson also has positive things to say about her new assistant principal, Melissa Entrekin. She said, “As we kick off another exciting year at E.B. Morse Elementary, I am filled with optimism for all that we could accomplish together. I am especially excited to welcome Melissa Entrekin as our new Assistant Principal and know she will be a wonderful addition to our Mustang Family. Her commitment to building relationships, supporting teachers, and helping every child succeed aligns perfectly with our vision that Mustangs Lead, Mustangs Grow.”

Wilson continued, “Together, I know we will continue creating a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment where every student has the opportunity to thrive. I can’t wait to see all that this school year holds for our students, staff, and families!”

Mrs. Entrekin is honored to have the opportunity to work with the talented faculty and staff of E.B. Morse Elementary School. Her goal is to build positive relationships with students and staff and to do her part in maintaining a 5-Star Culture of Excellence at EBM. She is eager to support teachers and to put her skills and experiences to work to make a positive impact on student growth and achievement.

Mrs. Entrekin holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Winthrop University and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Southern Wesleyan University. She has over 20 years of experience in education, dedicated to influencing student achievement through supporting teachers in the implementation of a standards-based curriculum and research-based strategies. She is committed to communicating the principal’s vision.

Merica Dyar is another new assistant principal committed to supporting her principal’s vision at Gray Court-Owings (GCO) School. Dyar is an experienced instructional coach with a strong background in curriculum support, teacher development, and student-centered leadership. Her professional goal includes fostering a culture of high expectations and belonging at GCO. Dyar is known as a strong collaborator and highly skilled in data analysis, standards alignment, and instructional modeling.

Dyar holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Western Governors University and a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina-Aiken. Before becoming an instructional coach, Dyar taught first grade for nine years, second grade for seven years, and kindergarten for a year at Greenbrier Elementary School. She then joined the GCO Tiger Family in 2021 as a third-grade teacher. In 2022, she was assigned to Laurens Elementary School. She first served as an instructional coach, then became a master teacher in 2024. She returned to GCO in 2025 as an instructional coach.

Dyar stated, “I’m beyond excited to serve as the Elementary Assistant Principal at GCO. GCO is home to me- it was the first Laurens 55 school where I had the privilege of serving. The faculty, staff, and students at GCO are like family, and I am grateful to be part of such an incredible community. What I love most is our shared commitment to ensuring every student succeeds. Excellence is the standard at GCO, and my goal is to provide leadership that reflects that standard every single day.”

GCO Principal Andy Entrekin gladly commented about having Dyar on his leadership team. “Mrs. Rains (GCO Middle School Principal) and I are excited to officially welcome Mrs. Dyar to our administrative team. Since arriving at GCO, she has been crucial to our Instructional Leadership Team and has served as a key component in the growth of our elementary population. Her new role will allow her to continue to work with our students and teachers and allow her an even greater opportunity to make our culture of excellence even better,” said Andy Entrekin.

Laurens County School District 55 is confident that Haley Adair, Melissa Entrekin, and Merica Dyar will be instrumental in Building a 5-Star District of Excellence. The three individuals have been deeply engaged in the district’s Leadership Week sessions that were held July 13-16, 2026. Throughout the week, all three leaders have shown true passion for learning and leading.