Since 2001, the HTC REEL Kids Program—Recognizing Extraordinary Examples of Leadership—has celebrated students who demonstrate remarkable strength, resilience, and leadership while overcoming life’s challenges.

HTC proudly honored the REEL Kids Class of 2025 with a special celebration at Medieval Times, where each student was recognized for their extraordinary journey and unwavering determination. It was a well-earned moment in the spotlight for these inspiring young individuals.

Congratulations to all of our REEL Kids!
Your courage and leadership inspire us all—you make Marion County proud!

The Marion High School and Mullins High School Academic Challenge Teams recently went head-to-head in a spirited competition against members of the Marion-Mullins Rotary Club.

The event was filled with lively trivia, teamwork, and plenty of laughs, creating a fun and engaging afternoon for students and Rotarians alike. While the rivalry was friendly, the enthusiasm and brainpower on display were undeniable!

A big thank you to the Rotary Club for their continued support of academic excellence in our schools!

We were PROUD to recognize Xavier Legette as this month's #MCSDProud Award recipient at our board meeting!

A 2019 graduate of Mullins High School and now a professional football player, Xavier has never forgotten his roots. Through generous donations, youth football camps, and personal outreach—like inspiring young readers with heartfelt messages—he continues to uplift and invest in the students of Marion County.

Xavier exemplifies humility, perseverance, and the true spirit of giving back. Although he couldn’t attend the ceremony in person, his proud grandmother, Ms. Linda Neal, accepted the award on his behalf.

Thank you, Xavier, for being a role model on and off the field. You are a shining example of Marion County pride!

At the April 2025 meeting, the Marion County Board of Education proudly recognized a number of exceptional students for their achievements in academics and the arts.

Creative Talent Recognized Statewide
Students from the Creek Bridge STEM Academy (CBSA) were honored for their powerful and thoughtful poetry submissions to the South Carolina Development Association. This year’s theme, “Creating My Career Path While Embracing Change in My Journey,” inspired meaningful reflections—and these young writers stood out at the state level.

Best of luck to our national-level qualifiers:

• Lily Barksdale – 4th Grade

• Journey Boatwright – 5th Grade

• Taneyah Thompson – 7th Grade

CBSA Spelling Bee Champion
A big congratulations to Taneyah Thompson, who also earned the title of 2024–2025 CBSA Spelling Bee Champion. We’re proud of her continued academic excellence!

Perfect Scores at Marion High School
Academic achievement was also on full display at Marion High School, where several students earned perfect scores on their End-of-Course (EOC) exams for the first semester—a remarkable accomplishment!

• Zyasia Reynolds – English II

• Alleigh Lynch – English II

• Peyton Wahl – English II & Biology I

• Dalton Luthi – Biology I

These students exemplify dedication, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence. We celebrate their success and look forward to all they will achieve in the future!

A huge congratulations to Joe Sanders, who has been named MCSD's Bus Driver of the Year!

Mr. Sanders’s dedication, hard work, and genuine care for our students make him an exceptional member of the MCSD family. His leadership, both on and off the bus, impacts the lives of our children every day, and we are incredibly proud to have him as part of our team.

Congratulations to all the exceptional students who were recognized at the Florence Darlington Technical College Honors Night for their achievements in the Early College Program and Dual Enrollment Courses. Their dedication, hard work, and passion for learning have paid off in a remarkable way.

Marion High School

Ivan Worley (Dual Enrollment)

Mullins High School

Brooklynn Williams (Early College)

Jazmyne Rowell (Early College)

Brianna Elliott (Dual Enrollment)

Taylor Godbolt (Early College)

While students enjoyed a well-deserved break this spring, our schools were hard at work preparing for an even better return. Maintenance teams took full advantage of the quiet campuses—gym floors were freshly waxed, new furniture was delivered and installed, and the softball field has been prepped and is game-ready. These behind-the-scenes efforts help create a clean, comfortable, and safe environment for students and staff alike.

The Parenting and Community Engagement Department of the Marion County School District proudly led a district-wide Reading Challenge Campaign during March, aimed at inspiring a love for reading through strong community involvement.

The initiative invited parents and community members to step into classrooms and share the joy of reading with students. With a spirit of friendly competition, schools rallied to bring in the most guest readers—and the response was outstanding. A total of 496 readers participated across the district!

Easterling Primary School rose to the top, earning the coveted one-year reading trophy with an impressive 124 community and parent readers.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to every parent and community member who gave their time and voices to this initiative. Your involvement makes a lasting impact and shows our students that reading is truly a shared celebration.

Congratulations to Dr. Ginger Jacobs, who was recently nominated for the prestigious Jessie Williams Little 'Leading the Way' Award, a statewide honor celebrating outstanding mentorship in education.

Established in memory of Jessie Little—a beloved Winthrop University alumna, faculty member, and passionate educator—this award recognizes individuals who make a lasting impact by guiding pre-service and new teachers.

Dr. Jacobs was awarded an Honorable Mention by Dr. Bettie Parsons Barger of Winthrop University, along with a cash prize, in recognition of her unwavering commitment to supporting the next generation of educators.

We are incredibly proud of Dr. Jacobs and grateful for the example she sets in shaping the future of teaching!

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Health Care Partners of South Carolina for their generous donation of backpacks. Your support plays a vital role in helping our students succeed and demonstrates a deep commitment to the well-being of our community.

We truly appreciate your partnership and dedication!

Congratulations to Leanna Cooke, a teacher at North Mullins Primary School, for receiving a $1,000 grant to support her America 250 Student Art Project!

This special project will give students the opportunity to express their creativity while learning about and celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States.

A heartfelt thank you to the Blue Savannah Swamp Fox Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) for funding this meaningful initiative. Your support is helping bring history to life through the eyes of our young artists.

We’re incredibly proud of Ms. Cooke and can’t wait to see the impact of her inspiring project in the classroom!

Congratulations to TJ Sanders, a 2021 Marion High School alumnus! We are incredibly proud of him for being drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft. He serves as a positive role model for both our community and school district. Go be great, TJ!!

Registration is OPEN for all students in grades 4K through 12!

Returning parents – Log in using your information from last year or check your email from Final Forms to begin. Don’t wait—secure your child’s spot today!

To register, visit www.marion.k12.sc.us or go directly to Final Forms at https://marion-sc.finalforms.com/