With South Carolina Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman not seeking reelection, the Nov. 8 race has opened up to feature three candidates from across the state, which include two educators and an executive leader of a conservative think tank.
Photo providedCandidate: Lisa Ellis
Party: Democrat
Hometown: Columbia
Professional background:
- Student activities director at Blythewood High School
- 22 years as a teacher
- 11 years as a student activities director
- Served as a middle school instructional coach
Why are you running for SC Superintendent of Education?
I chose to run for SC Superintendent of Education because I saw that no one else qualified, experienced and passionate was seriously considering this role. This is a critical time in our state’s history – not to mention the impact on such a critical time in children’s lives.
What is the biggest challenge facing the state today from an education perspective?
Our biggest challenge facing South Carolina public education is our teacher shortage. South Carolina is experiencing a teacher shortage of over 1,100 vacancies. Our children’s education cannot afford even larger class sizes, fewer support and health staff, fewer bus drivers and more.
Imagine this shortage exacerbated and forcing schools to limit classroom time or hiring unqualified teachers to lay the foundation for your child’s math and English skills. Policy debates around any other aspects of public school are counterproductive until we solve this problem.
What would be your No. 1 goal when first taking office, and how would you go about achieving that goal?
My No. 1 goal as SC State Superintendent is to put a quality teacher in every classroom in the state. Quality teachers in smaller classrooms provide students with a more engaged, more hands-on education, which better equips them to take on their academic and professional challenges after graduation.
We will achieve this by recruiting qualified teachers and motivating our current, talented teachers to remain in the profession through support of districts to raise teacher pay, hire more teachers in order to reduce class sizes and reduce administrative burdens on educators.
What distinguishes you as a candidate?
First and foremost, I am an educator and a qualified candidate whose work in and outside of the classroom provides me with the specific experience to lead our state’s public education system. As an educator, I have worked with parents, families, students and other education and administrative staff on limited budgets drafted by SC lawmakers.
What’s something people might not know about you?
Many people may not know that I am still working as a full-time teacher. I’ve spoken to so many families who assume I’ve taken a leave of absence from teaching in order to focus on the campaign. However, it feels contrary to my vision for South Carolina to leave another classroom without a teacher and relinquish another year of working with students. I am an educator, not a politician, and it’s important to me, and I think to South Carolinians, that I remain on the path toward improving our public education system.
Photo providedCandidate: Ellen Weaver
Party: Republican
Hometown: Greenville
Professional background:
- Bob Jones University graduate
- 12 years working for U.S. Senator Jim DeMint
- Helped launch Palmetto Promise Institute in 2013 and still works with the organization
Why are you running for SC Superintendent of Education?
I am running because the time for excuses has passed. South Carolina’s education system has been at the bottom for far too long. We need strong leadership with a fresh perspective that listens to people, provides a bold policy vision and quarterbacks the team it will take to move that agenda through the process. I have served on the Education Oversight Committee and had a front-row seat to the misalignment of policy and resources across our system. Throughout my career, I have been honored to build trusted relationships with policy, parental, educational, business and faith leaders of diverse backgrounds across this state. They have confidence in my ability to lead on day one and to build the kind of top-flight team it will take to make significant strides forward for the children and educational future of our state.
What is the biggest challenge facing the state today from an education perspective?
We have a literacy and math crisis in South Carolina. Our students are unable to read at grade level and they lack the mathematical skills necessary to prepare them for the next chapter of their lives, whether they choose to pursue higher education, enlist in the military or join the workforce.
What would be your No. 1 goal when first taking office, and how would you go about achieving that goal?
I will fix is South Carolina’s literacy and math crisis. We must simplify and clarify South Carolina’s standards to prioritize the basic skills children need to be successful in other vitally important subject areas like history, the sciences and the arts. This means a strong focus on phonics and knowledge building — the proven science of reading — especially in the early grades.
What distinguishes you as a candidate?
I’m the only candidate with executive leadership experience. The job of superintendent of education requires someone who has overseen large budgets and a multifaceted office. Throughout my time serving in Senator DeMint’s office, I managed a team of staffers working together for the betterment of all South Carolinians. During my time starting Palmetto Promise from the ground up, I’ve worked on substantiative policy to give education choices to all South Carolinians while working to bolster all the education options in South Carolina. During my time on the Education Oversight Committee, I was able to discover just how broken our education system is in South Carolina. I am the only candidate with executive experience, and I am the only candidate who has an extensive policy background focused on making every student’s life better. I am the only candidate with a plan to educate students, support students and empower parents, and I have the trusted relationships throughout the state to make meaningful change.
What’s something people might not know about you?
I love music. I’ve played the piano for years and have enjoyed playing for my Rotary Club and for my church. I also enjoy singing in my church choir.
Photo providedCandidate: Patricia Mickel
Party: Green
Hometown: Chester but lives in Rock Hill
Professional background:
- 15 years as an educator
Why are you running for SC Superintendent of Education?
- To work for the children of SC to make sure every child has the same resources and opportunities of any other child.
- To work for the educators to increase pay by working with legislators.
- To work for accountability, holding everyone accountable: educators, students and parents
What is the biggest challenge facing the state today from an education perspective?
The biggest challenge facing the state today is retaining and paying educators for the career they have chosen.
What would be your No. 1 goal when first taking office, and how would you go about achieving that goal?
My No. 1 goal will be to work to increase educators’ pay and to form an alliance in order to get a better understanding of what else we could to retain teachers. I also want to work with legislators and the governor to accomplish this goal.
What distinguishes you as a candidate?
I want to work for public education. I think every child should be able to obtain an associate degree along with a diploma. This would make them career-ready if they did not want to go on to college.
What’s something people might not know about you?
I’m a country girl who can drive a tractor and use a chainsaw.
