Two South Carolina school leaders receive top honors

Fairfield County School District Superintendent, Dr. J.R. Green, has been named the 2021 South Carolina Superintendent of the Year, and Lexington School District Three Chief Academic Officer, Mrs. Angie Rye, has been named the 2021 South Carolina District Level Administrator of the Year by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA).

“I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Green as a school board member and as a parent,” said Fairfield County School Board Chair William Frick. “Dr. Green talked about having a ‘culture change’ in the Fairfield County School District…Our students graduate with two years of college as they graduate from high school, overall test scores are improving, and financially we are operating with a balanced budget.” Mr. Frick continued, “While he did not accomplish any of these things on his own, none of it would have happened without Dr. J.R. Green and a culture change.”

Dr. Green is an active member of the SCASA Superintendents’ Affiliate, and he currently serves as a member of the South Carolina State Board of Education. His school district is home to 2,600 students; in which nearly 90% of the students qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

“As Lexington School District Three’s Chief Academic Officer, Mrs. Rye is the common denominator underlying the many academic successes within the district,” said SCASA Executive Director Beth Phibbs, “She has the unique ability to translate lofty goals into practicable realities for students and teachers. Mrs. Rye is well-respected by her instructional peers throughout South Carolina and we are thrilled that she was chosen for this honor.”

“Under Mrs. Rye’s leadership, our district has made sustained, incremental progress by implementing a variety of carefully selected instructional programs and strategies with fidelity,” said Lexington School District Three Interim Superintendent Dr. Stephen Hefner. “Unquestionably, the greatest consequence of Mrs. Rye’s vision and labor is the increased level of confidence our educators exhibit and the increased level of pride our students, teachers, and staff have in themselves. She is most deserving of this prestigious award.”

Dr. Green and Mrs. Rye will be recognized throughout the year for their accomplishments. Moseley Architects supports both awards by providing a scholarship to each winner to be used to assist a student or teacher with professional development or college courses.

SCASA is the professional organization for school leaders in South Carolina, with a membership of more than 4,500. From leadership development opportunities and research, to publications and legislative advocacy, SCASA’s focus is to support school leaders in providing the best possible education for South Carolina’s young people. As a state affiliate of three national associations for school leaders, SCASA also works on the national level.