Several leaders are shifting positions in advance of the Barnwell County School District’s (BCSD) inaugural year.
With Barnwell School District 45 (BSD45), the Barnwell County Consolidated School District (BCCSD), and the Barnwell County Career Center consolidating into one district, the BCSD, on July 1, the board and administration are working to fill several vacant leadership positions on the school and district levels.
“Each of these new appointees comes with a rich background in education and a deep commitment to the district’s communities. Each of these individuals is a true champion for children and has exhibited a strong passion for helping our county’s children be successful. We look forward to a wonderful 2024-2025 school year!” said BCSD Superintendent Dr. Crissie Stapleton.
New Assistant Superintendent
Barnwell High School (BHS) Principal Franklin McCormack has been named assistant superintendent of the BCSD.
“We have wonderful school communities with rich traditions of success in academics, athletics, and the arts. I look forward to working with our faculty, staff, students, parents, and community members across our county to seek innovative ways to educate our children,” said McCormack.
Stapleton, who has worked with McCormack for years, is confident in his ability to support staff throughout the district.
“I have no doubt Mr. McCormack will be an asset to staff across Barnwell County. He brings unique talents and strengths to this new role, along with a wealth of experience in education. We look forward to his support of our staff, students, and community as we transition into a countywide school district,” said Stapleton.
She cited how McCormack implemented several key programs that led to increased academic achievement, such as Project Lead the Way, Swiss Krono apprenticeships, content/attendance recovery, virtual lab, and Star Academy. Additionally, he established an energy conservation program that saved the district over $1 million in five years.
He has contributed to numerous district-level projects, such as creating a new district website, districtwide discipline code, Memorandum of Agreements, and a workforce management software for payroll and leave requests.
McCormack holds an Education Specialist degree in Administration and Supervision from Clemson University (2021) and a Superintendent certification from the S.C. State Department of Education.
New Barnwell High School Principal
Filling McCormack’s principal job will be BHS athletic director Derek Youngblood, who has spent most of his 18-year career in Williston and Barnwell.
He also previously served as assistant principal at both BHS and Guinyard-Butler Middle School. Prior to coming to Barnwell in 2020, the Williston native worked many years in his hometown as head football coach and athletic director at Williston-Elko High School.
“It is an honor to serve as Barnwell High School's principal. I look forward to helping the staff empower our students to be the best they can be in the classroom and the community,” said Youngblood.
He will be joined by assistant principal Dr. Jessica Brabham-James. The second assistant principal position is vacant after Jared Thrasher left to be principal of the primary school.
New Barnwell Primary School Principal
Barnwell Primary School (BPS) will have two new faces in school administration.
BHS assistant principal Jared Thrasher will lead BPS after long-time principal Donna Selvey retires in June.
BPS "is presented with the unique opportunity and challenge to serve as the opening chapter in the story of our students’ education. As with any good story, the ‘hook’ in the beginning is what draws the attention of the listener for the remainder of the story. I look forward to working alongside the incredible staff to ‘hook’ our students' attention and ignite their passion for learning that they will carry with them throughout the rest of their lives,” said Thrasher.
Thrasher began his teaching career in 2011 at BHS, but later taught in Anderson School District Five and Lexington School District Two. He returned to BSD45 in 2015, serving in various roles, including teacher, coach, CPI trainer, and assistant principal at both Barnwell Elementary School (BES) and BHS.
Working alongside Thrasher will be current assistant principal Dr. Vickie Carter-Blocker and a new face to BPS, Kara Bolen.
“I am grateful for this opportunity and look forward to working alongside a great administrative team and outstanding educators. Each stage in a child’s educational path is unique and equally important, and I am delighted to be a part of the early years of our BPS students,” said Bolen.
Bolen has been a literacy coach at BES for many years, but has also been an assistant principal at BES.
Kelly Edwards Elementary School Principal
Krystle Speller, previously assistant principal and MTSS specialist at Kelly Edwards Elementary School in Williston during the 2023-2024 school year, will be stepping into the role of principal.
“Speller has a rich background in teaching and instructional coaching, and she is enthusiastic about her new position,” said Stapleton.
Acknowledging how deeply appreciative she is of the collaborative spirit at Kelly Edwards, Speller said, “Kelly Edwards is amazing because of how the community of Williston and school staff work together to build and educate future leaders for the community, state, and world. I am excited and honored to take part in this great legacy and work.”
Speller takes over for Monique Smalls who will be a district transformation coach for the S.C. Department of Education. Smalls will work with schools taken over by the state.
Williston-Elko Middle School Principal
Patricia Ulmer, who has been part of the Williston-Elko Middle School (WEMS) staff since 2000, will take on the role of principal.
Ulmer has served the school in various capacities, including as a teacher, an MTSS specialist, and assistant principal.
Stapleton said Ulmer has a “deep connection to the school and commitment to its success.”
“I am filled with such gratitude for the work that is already being done by the WEMS team. I look forward to serving as the school's leader as we continue on a path towards success for all students. I will serve with my whole heart - because my heart is already invested there,” said Ulmer.
Ulmer takes over for Dr. Austrai Bradley.
Moving Forward
As Barnwell County School District prepares for the new academic year, the district looks forward to the fresh perspectives and dynamic leadership that these new principals will bring to their schools.
“We are so fortunate to have such highly qualified and passionate educators moving into these leadership roles. We are so grateful for the work the current principals have done within each of these schools, and we look forward to the newly hired administrators continuing the great work happening throughout Barnwell County,” said Stapleton.
The district now seeks to fill the positions left vacant after these new approvals.
