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LMS principal accepts upstate superintendent's post
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| By: Michael Smith |
May 14, 2005 |
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'At no point will Loris Middle School be without a principal'
Scott Mercer
LMS Principal
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Loris Middle School has a new principal
Judy Beard, a former principal of Carolina Forest Elementary School and district office employee, will take over for Scott Mercer, who's led LMS since July 2002.
Mercer, who's accepted a superintendent's position in Spartanburg County, will stay in Loris through May 27.
Until then, both administrators will work together closely to facilitate the transition, Mercer said.
"We're going to work very diligently to make a smooth transition," he said. "At not point will the school be without a principal."
Mercer said he's leaving before the actual end of the school year at the request of district officials in Spartanburg.
In the interim, he said he'll be working closely with Beard to ensure a smooth changeover.
Some of that transition work took place Monday, with Beard spending the day at Loris Middle School.
Beard said she met with teachers, staff and students so they could learn a little bit about her hopes and expectations.
"I wanted to get that foundations started for next year," she said. "We had a meeting with teachers to let them know expectations so we can set our goals."
Beard has worked in public education for 20 years, but it was in Loris got her start as a local teacher.
Her first teaching assignment with the district was at Loris Middle, where she began as a talented and gifted teacher in 1988.
Since then, Beard has taught at Carolina Forest, Myrtle Beach, Forestbrook and Lakewood elementary schools. She was also principal at Carolina Forest Elementary from 2001-04.
Beard spent this past school year as a principal specialist for Horry County Schools.
"I've been away from the principalship for a year now and missed being around kids," she said. "I'm really looking forward to stepping back into that role.
"One things that appeals to me about Loris is that I'm from a small own in Tennessee," Beard continued. "I'm gong to be very visible in community."
During the transition period, Beard will bounce between Loris Middle and the district office. Through this week and part of next week, elementary and middle school students are busy with taking the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test (PACT).
"After PACT testing is over, Beard will have a more permanent presence at Loris Middle School," said Teal Britton, spokeswoman for Horry County Schools.
As for moving to the upstate, Mercer said the decision was difficult to make. Mercer said only recently he began dreaming of advancing to the superintendent's position, and he said the Spartanburg move helped make that possible.
"When I was interviewing for the poison, I thought if I didn't get it I'd still be working at Loris Middle School," he said. "It has the sweetest students with great parents and a fine staff that makes it a joy to work at every day."
As for his successor, Mercer said Beard is well ahead of the curve and should fit right into the scheme of things.
"Judy Beard is what the doctor ordered," he said. "She's a fine instructional leaders with planty of experience."
Mercer has led Loris Middle since 2001. Before that he worked at the district office for 12 years, eventually becoming an executive director for policy and legal issues.
He's also been an assistant principal at numerous schools in Horry County.
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©Loris Scene 2010
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