LEXINGTON, S.C. — The board of trustees at Lexington School District 1 has announced five finalists for the superintendent position vacated by Dr. Gregory Little on June 30, 2022. Little resigned to take a position with the South Carolina Technical College System.
The finalists were selected unanimously by the board of trustees and will begin the next stage of the process by visiting schools and meeting with teachers, staff, parents and students, and other members of the community. Those day-long visits will be scheduled and shared as details become available.
The five finalists are:
- P. Health Branham -- current principal of Centerville Elementary School in Gilbert. Branham has been with Lexington 1 since 2005, serving as principal of Saxe Gotha Elementary before being promoted to the district director of elementary schools. Early in his career, Branham held positions at schools in Newberry and Aiken counties. In 2009, he became senior vice president of the School Turnaround program at EdisonLearning, and in 2011, took over the role of executive director for school improvement for schools and dropout centers across the United States. He has also served as academic operations director for Hobsons-Naviance Advantage and executive vice president of academic operations for Wake Forest Advantage, where he supported domestic and international schools in Asia. Branham holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Newberry College and a Master of Education in Supervision and Administration from Clemson University. He is scheduled to complete his Educational Specialist Degree in superintendency from Arkansas State University in 2023.
- Dr. Lucas "Luke" C. Clamp -- Clamp is currently the director of secondary schools for Lexington 1. He was the founding principal at River Bluff High School, a position that he held for 10 years. His career began as a chemistry/environmental science teacher and assistant football and baseball coach at Irmo High School in 2002. In 2004, Clamp became dean of studies at Irmo High. He joined Lexington 1 in 2006 as assistant principal at Lexington High School. Clamp earned a Bachelor of Science in Teaching from Clemson and a Master of Education in Education Administration and a Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of South Carolina.
- Dr. Ronald "Ron" W Garner -- Since 2010, Garner has been the superintendent of Spartanburg School District One. Before that, from 2008 to 2009, he was assistant superintendent/superintendent-elect in Spartanburg. He began his career as a middle school teacher and coach at R.P. Dawkins Middle School in Moore, South Carolina, in 1994. He then served as assistant principal at Cowpens Middle School before becoming principal there in 2000. He served in the same position at L.E. Gable Middle School in Roebuck (2003-05) and Chapman High School in Inman (2005-08). Garner earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and Biology from the University of South Carolina Upstate, a Master of Education in Educational Administration and Leadership from the University of South Carolina, and a Doctorate of Education in Educational Administration and Leadership from South Carolina State University.
- Dr. Nakia Hardy -- Currently the deputy superintendent for Durham Public Schools in Durham, North Carolina. Hardy began her career as a chemistry teacher at Walter Hines Page High in Greensboro, North Carolina and was assistant principal at Graham High School and principal at Broadview Middle School. She has served as a chief academic officer of Guilford County, North Carolina Schools as well as executive director for teaching and learning for Baltimore City Public Schools and assistant superintendent of the K-12 curriculum and instruction for Rockingham County Schools. Hardy earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Appalachian State University and a Master of Education in School Administration and a Doctor of Education from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- Dr. Gerrita L. Postlewait -- Postlewait is currently serving as interim superintendent in Lexington District 1. She served as superintendent for Charleston County School District, Horry County Schools, and Wetzel County (West Virginia) Schools. Postlewait began her career in educational roles in the private sector, including serving as assistant vice president for ACT testing and a chief K-12 officer for The Stupski Foundation in California, and has taught and served as a school administrator in multiple states. She earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and a Doctorate in Educational Administration from West Virginia University.
Lexington 1 has set up a page on the district website to explain and track the search for the next superintendent. Finalists' interviews have not yet been scheduled.
