The Marion County School District kicked off the 2024-2025 school year for staff with an Opening of Schools Convocation at CD Joyner Auditorium in Marion on Thursday, July 25, 2024. Schools showcased their excitement for the new year by wearing school shirts and creating unique chants during the annual roll call, with The Academy of Early Learning ultimately claiming victory.

The event started with the JROTC from Marion High School presenting the colors. Following that, Dr. Lashay Barksdale, principal of Creek Bridge STEM Academy, delivered a moving rendition of the National Anthem. Ms. Courtney Hayes, MCSD Teacher of the Year, greeted everyone and introduced special guests, local board members, and elected officials. Ms. Alanda Crawford, the Support Staff of the Year, introduced Pastor Robbie Baxley from Mullins First Baptist Church, who provided an inspiring Moment of Inspiration. Ms. Carlotta Battle, the Emerging Teacher of the Year, announced special recognitions, including the teachers of the year from each school, support staff from each school, and bus driver of the year. Mr. Sean Gilchrist, Jr. and the MCSD choir also provided uplifting music. In her leadership role, Dr. Bethea motivated the team with these encouraging words: "One of the great things about education is that we embark on a new journey each year; we get a fresh start every year. Let's use this year to make our best even better! Let's take pride in knowing we've impacted and created learning environments where our students can succeed and thrive."

The event also featured a vendor fair in the Shannon Wilkerson Gymnasium, where staff could engage with various vendors. Outside the gym, food trucks offered treats like donuts, lemonade, Kona ice, and nachos for staff to enjoy after the event.

The Marion County School District eagerly anticipates a year dedicated to fulfilling our mission of Educating, Preparing, and Inspiring all students!

In July, MCSD held a New Staff Orientation, and it was wonderful to see everyone coming together, bonding, and learning about the district. A special thanks to Coach Eric Troy for taking the time to speak to our new team members.

MCSD's Summer Bridge Institute was a great success! New teachers engaged in informative sessions to get ready for the upcoming school year. A special thanks to Ms. Courtney Hayes, MCSD Teacher of the Year, for speaking to our new teachers.

Congratulations to the Marion County School of Practical Nursing for achieving a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX-PN for the class of 2024! This marks the second consecutive year that all their students have passed. We are incredibly proud of the LPN graduates, as well as the staff and clinical sites, for preparing these nurses for their future careers.

Congratulations to Marion County Adult Education graduates and workforce students! We are so proud of your hard work and dedication to achieving your goals. We are excited to see what the future holds for each of you.

Creek Bridge STEM Academy recently celebrated the ribbon-cutting and unveiling of its new STEM Lab. This lab is a key component of the district's partnership with STEMU, which offers an engaging curriculum and hands-on learning experiences.

We are extremely proud of our students who spent their summer volunteering at MUSC Hospital as part of the Teen Volunteer Program. Congratulations to Madison Rogers for contributing 118 hours to the program.

Dr. Bethea dedicated a week this summer to legislative advocacy, engaging in insightful discussions and impactful networking with a strong focus on advancing education policy. As a governing board member for the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), the parent organization of the S.C. Association of School Administrators (SCASA), she visited Capitol Hill. There, she met with Congressional leaders and education staffers to address several key issues, including the potential impact of proposed federal funding cuts, particularly to Title I and Title II, challenges in teacher recruitment and retention, and resources needed to support the increasing clinical needs of students.

We're excited to announce that MCSD has won the 2024 Renew America's Schools Prize and Grant. This grant has three phases. It will help our schools upgrade their energy systems to create healthier learning environments for students and teachers. Only 16 school districts from across the United States received this incredible award! Click on the link below for more information.

https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-announces-states-receive-190-million-improve-health-safety-and

New Chromebooks have been purchased for MCSD students, who will benefit from them during the 2024-2025 school year!

At the August Board of Education meeting, the board of trustees recognized the following individuals for their recent achievements.

Mullins High School

Congratulations to Gabrielle Godbolt, a Summer 2024 graduate.

Academy for Careers and Technology

Congratulations to our LPN Instructors and recent nursing students for a 100% passage rate on the NCLEX Exam!

MCSDproud Winners

Congratulations to Marvin and Lisa Genwright from the Academy of Early Learning!

Board of Trustees

Congratulations to board members Donnie Hill and Kevin Dozier, who have reached a new level at SCSBA's Boardmanship Institute.

Thank you to our bus drivers for safely navigating and ensuring our students' safe transportation to and from school each day!