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Keesley submits resignation as Superintendent of Edgefield County Schools

web posted September 26, 2006

COUNTY – Dr. Sharon W. Keesley submitted her letter of resignation as Superintendent of Edgefield County Schools effective June 30, 2007 at the September 26 Board of Trustees meeting.

Mrs. Sallie Cooks, Chairwoman of the Edgefield County Board of Trustees said, “Under Dr. Keesley’s tenure as Superintendent, we have been able to improve student achievement and work diligently toward the 2014 NCLB goals. In this 21st century, she has been an effective leader and met all the challenging issues of the educational process of our students.”

Having served all of her educational career in Edgefield County, her very first paying job was that of a bus driver while she was a student at Strom Thurmond High School. She has spent her entire career serving the students of Edgefield County.

Board of Trustee member Andy Livingston noted, “I was Chairman of the Board in 1999 when we selected Sharon as our Superintendent. There were 49 applicants for the position and we interviewed seven of them from areas throughout the Southeast. After twelve hours of interviews, our decision led us back to the first interview. Sharon was indeed the right person for the job. She brought and has maintained high standards of professionalism, intelligence and leadership for our District. She will be missed, but I thank her for her contributions during her eight years as our Superintendent. I am proud that she is a graduate of the Edgefield County public school system and has shown what leaders our county can produce.”

“Dr. Keesley is regarded very highly as an educational leader among her school family in Edgefield, and is equally revered by the education community in the state of South Carolina,” said Dr. Frank G. Roberson, Associate Superintendent for Instructional Services and continued, “I have known Dr. Keesley all of my professional life. We have collaborated on a number of educational issues that have resulted in improving the quality of education statewide. Dr. Keesley has been a wise and trusted counselor to me and so many others in leadership positions. I cannot imagine education without her intelligence and energy. She has an abundance of specific and operational knowledge on every aspect of public education. If there is ever a superintendent that cannot be replaced, Dr. Sharon Keesley is that superintendent.”

Dr. Keesley has held high standards for the teachers who work with students each day. Her first requirement of teachers hired by the district has been that they have a love for children and have a genuine desire to be in the classroom. Her expectations have motivated teachers to adapt to their “calling of teaching.”

She has shared her belief that if expectations and standards of teachers are high then the needs of students will be met in the classroom. She has held the philosophy that teachers, who have the most direct contact with students, are the key to making the difference in the lives of students. To that end, she has placed stronger administrators and teachers in the most at-risk environments. She often reminds her staff that “instructional programs” can never take the place of a quality academic team within a school.

“Through the years serving as Edgefield County School Superintendent, Dr. Keesley has always been a firm believer in teamwork,” said Diane Murrell, Principal of W. E. Parker Elementary and continued, “She surrounded herself with individuals that believe in an equal education for all students. She has given the administrators at the district level and at the school level the freedom to do the things that they feel would be best for the students that they work with to ensure that no child will be left behind. Through the work of a strong administrative team, our district has moved forward in the state of South Carolina.”

“Dr. Keesley had more faith in my ability to take over as head coach than I did myself. She encouraged me to do it, and I will never be able to thank her enough. She has been one of our football program’s biggest fans, and we will certainly miss her support.” said STHS Coach Lee Sawyer.

She has taken great strides in communicating weekly with all employees through weekly e-mail messages. These messages often include words of thanks extended from her to educators for the hard work they are doing daily in the classroom with students. These messages also called to attend many state issues that local educators should be aware of and respond to with a strong voice for public education.

Her communication skills extended further to designated principal’s meetings and district administrative meetings where she would keep these administrators informed of state mandates, operations and the financial picture. She used these times to address “things that needed to be corrected” as well as briefing these leaders on community events that effect education.

Dr. Keesley had taken even greater strides with her communication skills to parents and citizens of Edgefield County. Through various bulk mailings to parents as well as quarterly newsletters, she has strived to keep them knowledgeable of issues that are facing our schools, as well as to adhere to certain strategies as “Preparing Your Child

For Test Taking to “Safe Schools For Your Children. She has always held an open door policy to the media.

“When the topic of outstanding superintendents in South Carolina comes up, so does the name of Sharon Keesley. She is known throughout our state as a person who has dedicated her life to improving the lives of others,” said Dr. Darrell Johnson Superintendent of Greenwood 50. He further stated, “She not only works diligently to improve her district but always has time to assist aspiring administrators. As a first time Superintendent, she has been a role model for being positive about providing a quality education for all students. She is more than a winner; she is a champion educator who will truly be missed and most difficult to replace.”

“I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Keesley for several years and consider her to be a great friend as well as one of the very best superintendents anywhere. Sharo has been very active in the SC Association of School Superintendents and is president-elect of that organization this year. She has also been a key member of the Western Piedmont Education Consortium and has served as Chair of WPEC in recent years,” said Dr. Edgar C. Taylor of Laurens County District 55.
Dr. Taylor noted further, “Dr. Keesley is strongly committed to the success of all children and works diligently for the good of the students of Edgefield County and all of South Carolina I hope that her retirement from the post of Superintendent of Edgefield County will not be the end of her service to public schools of our state and region. Her talents and tireless energy should not be wasted. I believe that Dr. Keesley will be a hard act to follow as Edgefield Superintendent. It is admirable that she is giving the Board of Education ample warning so that they can start their search. A person of her ability, work ethic, and experience has become a rare find in today’s environment.”

Dr. Keesley’s professional affiliations across the state of South Carolina, as well as national affiliations have had her as a respected voice of public education. She has held the chairmanship of the Western Piedmont Education Consortium, Superintendents Conference Planning Committee, SCASA Executive Committee, SCASA Accountability Advisory Committee, SCASA Summer Leadership Planning Committee, Program Planning Chair for S.C. Instructional Leaders Roundtable, Chairman for S.C. Instructional Leaders Roundtable, Chairman SC-ASCD Program Recognition Committee, Secretary SC-ASCD and President SC- ASCD.

She has served on the S.C. Association for Allied School Administrators, S.C. Writing Improvement Coordinating Council, S.C. Association for Rural Education Board, Southern Association of College and Schools-State Committee and Chair; Principal Evaluation Advisory Committee, Chairman South Carolina Consortium Directors, Lander College Board of Bistros, Piedmont Tech Board of Visitors, State Board of Directors for SC-ASCD; Edgefield County Library Board of Trustees, Edgefield County Chamber of Commerce Board, S.C. Association of School

Superintendents, Edgefield County Literacy Council, S.C. Consortium for Gifted Education, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Greenwood Consortium Staff Development Network, Association of Edgefield County Administrators, National Education Association, S.C. Education Association, Edgefield County Education Association, Piedmont Tech Steering Committee, Piedmont Tech Executive Committee. She is currently serving as President-elect of the S.C. Association of School Superintendents, a Division of SCASA, as well as on the governing board of American Association of School Administration.

“Under the leadership of Dr. Keesley, the Edgefield County School District has taken leaps and bounds in many positive directions,” said Bruce Lee, an Assistant Principal in the ECSD. He continued, “She has had a profound impact on student achievement throughout the district. Dr. Keesley is no stranger to the community and because of her relationship with the people in the community; the Edgefield County School District has flourished.” On a personal note Mr. Lee commented, “Dr. Keesley encouraged me along with others to further our education. I thank her for the support as a classroom teacher and as an administrator. Dr. Keesley will be missed not only by the community of Edgefield, but by other educators throughout the state of South Carolina as well. I wish her the best.”

Mr. Pete Hillary, a parent, stated, “She has been very inspirational to the school district. Dr. Keesley has always active at all the schools and was always at events. She is such a good communicator with the students as well as adults. If you ask me, she could be our superintendent for another 20 years. She is a very special person.”

“We will miss Dr. Keesley in our school district. She has provided valuable leadership over the years. Before she became superintendent, she had experience at all levels of education, including the classroom and administration. This enabled her to have first hand experience in dealing with all of the day-to-day issues. She understood education from both theoretical as well as practical view points. I thin her legacy will be that her number one concern was the well being and education of the students,” said Greg Anderson, Attorney.

Dr. Keesley has been honored as the Outstanding Educator for South Carolina Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Outstanding Superintendent Award for the South Carolina Association of Guidance Counselors, Outstanding Superintendent Award for South Carolina Vocational and Technical Education, Honorary State Farm Degree by the State FFA, the Robert Alexander Award Outstanding Administrator Award from the University of South Carolina-Aiken, and has been one of the top three Superintendents in the state for the year 2004, 2005 and 2006 by the South Carolina Association of School Superintendents-Division of SCASA.

Dana Kaltz, a local teacher stated, “Dr. Keesley has the unique ability to make others believe in themselves. She has been a leader that has made a remarkable difference in the lives of the students in our district. She has shown true dedication to education in Edgefield County and she will be missed.”

Senator Tommy Moore stated, “I am very proud of Dr. Keesley. I have known no one who has been a greater supporter to the children of Edgefield County, to the educators and administrators of Edgefield County; as well as the citizens of Edgefield County. I am honored and pleased to call her my good friend.”



 

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