Ashley Stokes Appointed as New Lower School Head
June 23, 2014
SPARTANBURG, SC – Spartanburg Day School will begin the new school year with a new leader in its Lower School. Ashley Stokes was recently appointed as Lower School head and will begin her duties July 1.
Stokes is passionate about building a strong educational foundation for young learners. She is gifted and talented certified and describes herself as a life-long learner and researcher who is committed to providing an exceptional learning experience for students. She emphasizes the importance of technology in the classroom, innovative learning and individualized instruction.
“I am thrilled to join a faculty of collaborative educators who care deeply about children and educating young minds,” Stokes said. “I am committed to continue leading the Lower School in its tradition of excellence, educating the whole child. I am excited about this wonderful opportunity, and am counting the days until I join my new school family.”
Most recently, Stokes worked as a first grade reading interventionist at Pine Street Elementary School in Spartanburg School District 7, where she became a leader in reading instruction and facilitated professional development for other teachers. Stokes worked for two years as a fifth grade teacher at Meadow Glen Elementary School in Lexington School District 1 and was appointed as a model technology teacher for the district. Before that, she taught fifth grade at Gilbert Elementary School (also in Lexington 1) and at Lakeview Elementary School in Greenwood School District 50.
“Ashley Stokes brings to this role demonstrated success as a classroom teacher, the role model of an educational researcher and innovator and combines that with the desired qualities of a love for children, personal warmth, intelligence and the capacity to collaborate and lead,” said SDS Head of School Rachel Deems.
A former co-worker commented that Stokes “is a role model for collaboration, professionalism, and quality teaching.” Michel Stone, a member of the SDS parents’ advisory group, said Stokes “is prepared, professional, very bright and personable, and she will collaborate with teachers and parents to make the Lower School at SDS the best place in the Upstate to educate young learners. She will be an innovative leader, and our Lower School will be dynamic under her direction.”
Stokes earned a master’s degree in educational administration in 2012 from the University of South Carolina. She received a master’s in divergent learning from Columbia College in 2009 and a bachelor’s degree in 2006 from Lander University with a major in elementary education.
Stokes replaces retiring Lower School Head Peggy Karpick, who served in the role for 20 years. In her new position at SDS, she will oversee all aspects of the Lower School, which serves students from 3K to fourth grade. The Lower School at SDS is an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme school and is accredited by SAIS/AdvancED/SACS.
