Dutch Fork Principal wins Lifetime Achievement Award

IRMO, SC – Dr. Gregory C. Owings, Principal at Dutch Fork High School, recently won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the South Carolina Association of School Administrators. In a recent interview, Dr. Owings briefly described his work in education for the past 43 years.

The resume of Dr. Owings is heavy with accomplishments and awards for more than four decades—a marvelous reflection of a true educator in our community. Serving as coach, teacher, assistant principal and then principal at four schools, Owings has sought opportunities to mentor and guide students throughout his career.

“I was so humbled and honored to be nominated by Dr. Hefner, our superintendent,” remarked Owings on winning the award. “I’ve had a great career based on not so much about what I’ve done, but by my association with so many great people—great students and their parents, fantastic teachers, and distinguished superintendents like Dr. Hefner.”

Owings recalled some of his students who have gone on to accomplish remarkable things in their careers, even once allowing him the privilege to meet President Bush because of the success of these students.

When asked about how he got started in education, Dr. Owings replied:

“I’ve always been an outdoor person and I enjoyed teaching young kids because of the influence of my grandfather, once the Director of Parks and Recreation in New York. That’s how I started coaching. And that transitioned to teaching and administration so that I could have a greater impact on my students. I love the interaction with students and I love to see them succeed.”

Owings has previously won awards for Teacher of the Year, Coach of the Year, Principal of the Year, and many more during his tenure in South Carolina education. A number of his schools have won Palmetto’s Finest, Palmetto Gold, and America’s Best School.

How has education changed in four decades? Technology, Owings said, has completely changed education, and this has presented many opportunities and challenges for teachers and administrators. These great opportunities afforded students now, he said, have created greater competition in the workplace but also much more visibility for the future successes of students.

What advice would Dr. Owings pass along to up and coming educators?

“Love what you do. Do your job. Never stop learning.”