2026 SC Foundation for Educational Leadership gala honorees announced

The South Carolina Foundation for Educational Leadership, South Carolina Association of School Administrators’ (SCASA) non-profit arm, is hosting its ninth annual gala on Friday, April 17, 2026, to celebrate this year’s South Carolina Educator Hall of Fame inductees, the Distinguished South Carolina Public School Graduates who have excelled nationally and internationally in their respective fields, and the Distinguished South Carolina Public Education Impact Award Recipient. The “South Carolina Foundation for Educational Leadership Gala” will be held at the Columbia Marriott at 6:00 p.m. as a celebration of the impact of public education and how it has contributed to the achievements of the seven honorees.

The 2026 South Carolina Educator Hall of Fame Inductees:

Dr. Debbie Hamm

Dr. Hamm is a veteran public-school administrator who has served as a teacher, curriculum coordinator, director of research, chief academic officer, and superintendent.  While serving in Richland District Two, she led the world’s first districtwide rollout of 1:1 computing using Chromebooks and the state’s first computer-adaptive MAP testing. 

Dr. David Longshore, Jr.

Dr. Longshore dedicated more than 30 years to public education as a principal and superintendent.  He was a key witness in a lawsuit brought by rural school districts against the State of South Carolina.  He served as President of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators and served on the South Carolina State Board of Education.

Dr. James “Jim” A. Wilsford (posthumous)

Dr. Wilsford served as a teacher, principal, associate superintendent, and superintendent.  Under his leadership, Orangeburg District Five earned the inaugural ComputerWorld Smithsonian Award for advancing educational technology. In 1989, he was named National Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators.

The 2026 Distinguished South Carolina Public School Graduates:

Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams Earley (posthumous)

A 1934 graduate of Booker T. Washington High School (Richland County), LTC Charity Adams Earley was the first Black officer of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC).   She was commanding officer of the first Black WAC unit deployed oversees and was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1945, becoming the highest-ranking Black woman Army officer during World War II.

Jim Shore

A 1968 graduate of York Comprehensive High School (York District 1), Mr. Shore is an award-winning artist and founder of Designs Americana.  His collaborations include Disney, Peanuts, Harry Potter, Coraline, and The Grinch. He has been honored with the ICON HONORS Lifetime Achievement Award and multiple NALED Artist and Collectible of the Year awards. 

Retired Chief Justice Jean Hoefer Toal

A 1961 graduate of Dreher High School (Richland District 1), Chief Justice Toal became the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court of South Carolina, serving as Chief Justice for 24 years.  In 2004, Chief Justice Toal received the Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award from the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession.

The 2026 Distinguished South Carolina Public Education Impact Award Recipient

Bruce Brumfield

Mr. Brumfield has served as CEO of Founders Federal Credit Union since 2003.  Under his leadership, the credit union has grown to $5 billion in managed assets and has delivered financial literacy programming to students of all ages.  In addition, he has guided Founders in donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to schools across its service areas.

For more information about gala tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.scleadershipfoundation.org.