Oconee schools’ administrative hires

At a special called board meeting held Thursday, April 28th, 2022, the School District of Oconee County Board of Trustees approved several administrative hires for the 2022-2023 school year.  Dr. Thorsland said, “We are delighted to have quality individuals within our district to fill these administrative positions.  Many of them are SDOC graduates who have chosen to invest in and serve their own communities.  We look forward to working with each of them in their new roles.”

Jennifer Crawford, a Walhalla High School alum, has been named the next principal of her alma mater. Mrs. Crawford holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Clemson University, a Master’s degree in Reading from Clemson, and K-12 School Administration certification from Gardner-Webb University.  She taught English Language Arts for eleven years at Seneca Middle School and worked for five years as an Integration Specialist for the School District of Oconee County before moving into her current role as an assistant principal at Walhalla High School in 2018. Mrs. Crawford is married to Nathan and they have two children, Walker and Preston.

 

Elizabeth McCauley McDonald, a Seneca High graduate and current principal of Northside Elementary, has been named the new principal of Seneca Middle School.  Mrs. McDonald holds a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education Social Studies from Clemson University and Master’s degrees in both Education and Educational Administration from Anderson University and University of South Carolina, respectively.  She is currently pursuing a PhD. in Literacy, Language and Culture at Clemson University. Mrs. McDonald taught  social studies for eight years, two of those at Seneca High School, before moving to administration. Elizabeth is married to Alonzo and they have four children, Maricellyn, Audra, Catherine and Alonzo, Jr.

Mrs. Ashley Robertson, current principal of James M. Brown Elementary School, was named Director of Early Learning to replace Mrs. Shanon Lusk who is retiring after 30 years with the district. Mrs. Robertson began her career at Walhalla Middle School as a language arts teacher for 5 years. She then moved to the roles of assistant principal at Seneca Middle School in 2009 and principal of James M. Brown Elementary School in 2013.  She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Masters Degrees in both Reading and Administration and Supervision from Clemson University. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Teaching and Learning with an emphasis in early childhood at Clemson University. Ashley and her husband, Josh, reside in Seneca with their three children, Landon, Carrington, and Grayson.

Mrs. Maggie Ables,  will transition from a special education classroom to assistant principal at West-Oak High School. Mrs. Ables was born in Oconee County and is a Walhalla High  graduate. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Special Education from Clemson University, a  Master’s Degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Furman University, and her Education Specialist Degree in Administration and Supervision from Clemson University. Mrs. Ables has eleven years of teaching experience, seven at West-Oak Middle and four at West-Oak High. Maggie lives in the West-Oak community with her husband, Justin, and their two children, Luke and Cole.

Philip Price, an Oconee native and West-Oak High graduate, will move from his current assistant principal  position at James M. Brown to join the administrative team at Orchard Park Elementary School. Mr. Price holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Anderson University and an Education Specialist Degree from Arkansas State University. Before becoming an assistant principal, Mr. Price taught for six years as well as serving in several other roles in the school district including kindergarten assistant and computer technician. He and his wife,