LIBERTY — At the January 24 meeting of the School District of Pickens County Board of Trustees, Elliott Southard was named principal of Chastain Road Elementary School. Southard is currently principal at Central Elementary.
“Opening a new school requires an experienced administrator with exceptional abilities,” said Dr. Henry Hunt, superintendent. “Mr. Southard is the ideal leader for the new school. He has been successful at Central, earning the respect of the staff and parents. He has outstanding rapport with students. His enthusiasm for learning is contagious. He’s also a team player who is well-respected by his peers.”
A graduate of Clemson University, Southard taught third grade in Anderson before becoming assistant principal at Six Mile Elementary in 2005. He began his tenure as principal at Central Elementary in July 2007. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in K-12 Educational Leadership at Clemson.
“I am excited about the opportunity to open a brand new elementary school,” Southard said. “This is something that most folks only dream about. I know Lowell Haynes, principal at Liberty Elementary, very well and look forward to working closely with him and the rest of the tremendous staff at Liberty to make the transition to Chastain Road. I am also looking forward to meeting and getting to know the students, parents, and community members in the Liberty area. I have heard nothing but wonderful things about them.”
“As for my time at Central,” he continued, “I could not be more grateful. There is not a more devoted faculty and staff around, and the students and their families are top notch. I will dearly miss working with them.”
Southard will begin planning for the transition to Chastain Road while continuing his duties at Central Elementary. Chastain Road Elementary is set to open in September.