President Forest E. Mahan, Ph. D., Aiken Technical College president, has been named the Chief Executive Officer of the Year for the southern region. The Association of Community College Trustees gave him this recognition.
The Association of Community College Trustees is a non-profit organization that advocates on behalf of college institutions. They represent over 6,500 elected and appointed trustees who acquire more than 1,200 community colleges.
Not only was he selected as CEO of the Year, but he was also selected for the Chief Executive Officer state award by the SC Association of Technical College Commissioners.
The award recognizes what the candidates have done for the school and how it has impacted the community or technical college.
The chair of the Association of Community College Trustees stated that Dr. Mahan has demonstrated visionary leadership and dedication to inclusion, equity, and excellence.
Dr. Mahan became the President of Aiken Technical College 7 years ago, on July 1, 2016. That makes him the fifth president since the schools opening in 1972. This came after the former president, Dr. Susan A. Winsor, announced that she would be retiring in 2016.
Before going to Aiken Tech, he served as the vice president for academic affairs and student services at Northeastern Technical College.
Dr. Mahan is also active in the community, while serving on numerous organization boards, along with his college leadership.
Aiken County Public School District Welcomes 5 New Principals
The Aiken County Public School District will be welcoming 5 new principals for the 2023-2024 school year.
Learn a little about each new principal here.
Dr. Renee Bryant-Evans for Chukker Creek Elementary School
Dr. Renee Bryant-Evans has been named the new principal for Chukker Creek Elementary School ahead of the 2023-24 school year.
Dr. Bryant-Evans’ academic background includes a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University and an Educational Specialist Degree in Elementary Education from Troy State University. She earned a Master of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education from Fort Valley State University and her Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education from Georgia College and State University.
She spent 12 years as a classroom teacher before serving in school administration and has served as Assistant Principal for Oak Hill Elementary, Rocky Plains Elementary, and Newton High School, Principal of Gadsden Elementary School, and Senior Officer for Teaching, Learning, and Leadership Development for K-12 Transformation Schools. Dr. Bryant-Evans most recently served as Acting Associate Superintendent for K-12 Transformation Schools for Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools.
Jacqueline Osteen for Millbrook Elementary School
Jacqueline Osteen is the new principal at Millbrook Elementary for the 2023-24 school year.
Osteen began her career in education as a Special Education Aide at Chukker Creek Elementary School. She went on to teach 6th Grade ELA at Saluda Middle School before returning to Aiken County Public Schools, where she taught 5th and 3rd Grade at Gloverville and was named the school’s Teacher of the Year in 2016. She later taught 5th Grade at Aiken Elementary before joining Langley-Bath-Clearwater Middle School’s Administrative Team as an assistant principal in 2020.
She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina Aiken in 2012 and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from the University of South Carolina in 2017.
Kippy Kelly for J.D. Lever Elementary School
Kippy Kelly is the new principal at J.D. Lever Elementary School. She served as the assistant principal for the last five years at J.D. Lever Elementary School.
Kelly’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina Aiken along with a Masters in Administration and Supervision and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership, both from Clemson University. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership.
Dede Scott for Hammond Hill Elementary School
North Augusta native Dede Scott has been named Hammond Hill Elementary School’s new principal for the 2023-24 school year.
Scott began her career as a fourth-grade teacher at Belvedere Elementary School, and also served there as a first-grade teacher. She went on to spend 12 years at Mossy Creek Elementary School, teaching first, third, and fourth grades and serving as the school’s K-5 Math Content Interventionist. She took on the role of District Elementary Math Content Interventionist in 2017.
Scott is a graduate of North Augusta High School. She went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts with a Minor in Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina Aiken and a Master’s Degree in Supervision and Administration from Southern Wesleyan University.
Latonia Evans for Leavelle McCampbell Middle School
Latonia Evans is the new principal at Leavelle McCampbell Middle School for the 2023-24 school year.
After 12 years in the classroom, Evans transitioned into Administration as an assistant principal at Leavelle McCampbell. Most recently, she served as an assistant principal at Schofield Middle School.
Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education with a major in Middle Grades Education along with a Master of Education with a major in Curriculum and Instruction, both from Augusta State University. She received an Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Georgia Regents University in 2014.
