The Community Times Dispatch

Student achievement is Priority #1 for new Superintendent Beginning July 1st, Colleton schools will take its direction from Leila Williams, of Green Pond. Williams has her focus set on student achievement being the foremost priority of her new appointment.

Members of the Colleton County School Board unanimously voted to accept Williams as the incoming school Superintendent, during a special called meeting last week. Specific details of her contract have not been released at this time.

Mrs. Williams takes the helm at a pivotal moment in the district’s history. On one hand, the district is nearing final phases and completion of a $90 million dollar facilities plan. On the other hand, educators are preparing to implement a different style of teaching, which could help to improve test scores, as well as, help increase the graduation rate.

According to Mrs. Williams, carful examination of the data and programs that are currently in place helps them identify what can be done to help raise test scores. One program that was revamped for this school year is the alternative program.

“That’s a group of students that we are all concerned about,” said Williams. We are looking at the number of children that have been able to leave the program, go back to their regular school campus, and be successful…I am very pleased with that.”

She said that the district will continue to focus on that population of students who seemingly haven’t performed as well on their regular school campus. She is examining an approach to expand the program.

“My greatest successes so far have been my work with what you might call “special populations.” Whether it was Special Ed students, Gifted and Talented students, or ESL students, Williams either directly or indirectly served through providing support and helping to develop and/or expand programs.

“That’s something I am very proud of,” she said.

Williams identifies the learning environment and effective instruction as a catalyst for keeping students in school, improving test scores, and achieving an excellent graduation rate.

“Because of several initiatives, we are very optimistic about what we think our graduation rate is going to be this year,” she said. A lot of it is attributed to the work of the senior counselor…involving the students, communicating more frequently with the students, communicating with the parents, studying their transcripts to see where the differences are and helping them to recover courses.”

The students are taking courses they may have overlooked along the way or subjects they have not performed successfully. They are also maximizing use of the virtual school initiative.

“All of those are things I think are contributing to the increase we are going to see this year.”

Concerning early childhood initiatives within the district, Williams said that she is pleased to see that there are plans for further extension of the early childhood center that will expand the program and accommodate more students.

Teams at the high school have begun an undertaking to make Colleton County High School a High School That Works high school. The team has used this year to plan and is set to implement the plan next year.

“What I think we will see is a different style of teaching which may help reach more students,” she said. That may also contribute to our graduation rate.”

Williams said that one of the advantages of the new high school is the way it is designed to group the students together by the course of study that they have identified as their area of interest. She said the students and teachers will be able to develop a closer bond which have a positive impact on test scores and ultimately improve the graduation rate.

Mrs. Leila Williams began working in Colleton County School District 29 years ago, teaching consumer science. After getting her Master’s Degree in Special Education, she began teaching there. Next she got her Administrator’s Certification and became Director of Special Services. This year represents the sixth year she has served as Assistant Superintendent within the Colleton School District.

She completed her undergraduate degree from Winthrop University, received a Master’s Degree from South Carolina State University, and a Master’s Degree from the Citadel, as well as, her Educational Specialist Degree from the Citadel.