Batesburg-Leesville, SC - When the school year commences on August 22, thirty-two new employees will officially be joining the Lexington School District 3 family. The district welcomes each of these individuals and would like to introduce them to members of the B-L community.
B-L Primary School
Aubrey Steele will teach children in grade 5K this year at B-L Primary School. Mrs. Steele graduated from USC-Aiken with a degree in Early Childhood Education and joins the district after teaching at Saluda Primary School for four years. Aubrey and her husband, Josh, reside in Leesville.
Samuel Shealy also joins B-L Primary School as a physical education teacher. Mr. Shealy attended Saluda High School and has degrees from Lander University and the United States Sports Academy. Mr. Shealy previously taught in Aiken County Public Schools and resides in Saluda with his wife, Kim, and their two children.
Kendall Reese will assume the position of music teacher this year at B-L Primary School. Ms. Reese earned a degree in music education from Newberry College where she received the “Outstanding Senior Music Major” award. Ms. Reese makes her home in Newberry.
Adriana Maroney comes to Lexington 3 from Saluda Primary School. Mrs. Maroney will be teaching 2nd grade at B-L Primary School. Mrs. Maroney has degrees in Early Childhood Education and Education Leadership from Toccoa Falls College and Clemson University. She has been named a “Teacher of the Year” twice during her education career and currently lives in Lexington with her husband, Jonathan, and daughter, Grace.
Denise Houghton will be working with the 4K Montessori program at BLPS as a teaching assistant. Mrs. Houghton is a graduate of Sumter High School and has degrees in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education/General Studies from Central Carolina Tech and Columbia International University. She has 14 years of experience in the field of education and is a former Teacher of the Month at Westside Academy. Mrs. Houghton and her family reside in B-L.
Shelba Hopkins will be joining the BLPS faculty as a teacher’s aid. Mrs. Hopkins graduated from Trinity High School in 1995 and has experience working as a teacher at Big Blue Marble Academy and Hesters. She resides in B-L with her husband, Michael, and their four children.
Jenny Hallman will teach part-time with the Montessori program at BLPS. Mrs. Hallman has a degree in Early Childhood Education from Columbia College and previously worked for 33 years as a teacher at Ridge Spring-Monetta Elementary School. She lives in Batesburg-Leesville with her husband, Bobby. Together they have two children--Chris and Nick.
Donna Fabrizio will serve as a first grade teacher this year at the primary school. Ms. Fabrizio has several degrees from various institutions including an Associate of Arts degree from Midlands Technical College and a degree in Early Childhood Education from USC. She is originally from Pennsylvania and has three children—Frederick, Christina and Victoria.
Brenda Dunn will be working with the Montessori program at BLPS. Ms. Dunn is a graduate of B-L High School and has a degree in Secretarial Science from Midlands Technical College. She has previous business experience with Federal Land Bank, MCEC and SC LLR. She makes her home in Batesburg and has two daughters, Andrea and Elizabeth.
Jennifer Derrick joins the B-L Primary School family as a part-time instructional assistant with the Montessori program. Mrs. Derrick is a graduate of USC-Aiken where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. She previously worked at Senior Resources as an Administrative Assistant. Mrs. Derrick and her husband, Timothy, have two children—Owen and Landon.
Whitney Coffman will also be working as a part-time instructional assistant with the Montessori program at BLPS. Mrs. Coffman is a graduate of B-L High School and has a degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Columbia College. Currently, she is also working on her Master of Communication Disorders degree at USC. Whitney is married to Kevin Coffman and they reside in B-L.
Ashley Huneycutt will be teaching first grade this year at BLPS. Mrs. Huneycutt earned a degree in Early Childhood Education from USC-Aiken and has teaching experience at Lake Murray Child Development Center. She and her husband, Aaron, make their home in Lexington.
B-L Elementary School
Emily Seeley joins B-L Elementary School as a 3rd grade teacher. Mrs. Seeley is a graduate of Saluda High School and has a degree in Early Childhood Education from Lander University. Previously, she has worked as a substitute teacher at Gilbert Elementary School. Mrs. Seeley and her husband, John, reside in B-L.
Kristen Pugh will be teaching music at B-L Elementary School this year. Mrs. Pugh is a graduate of Gilbert High School and earned a BA in Music Education from USC-Aiken. While in school, she received several awards including “Best Female Vocalist” and served as the VP and President of choral activities. Mrs. Pugh joins Lexington 3 from Chukker Creek Elementary School. She and her husband, Christopher, have two children—Hunter and Charli.
Meghan Poirier will serve as a PE teacher at BLES. Ms. Poirier graduated from Apex High School and earned a degree in Physical Education/Health from Appalachian State University. While in school, she earned the Thomas Scholarship and was a PE Ambassador. Ms. Poirier joins Lexington 3 from Fox Creek High School where she was a PE/Health teacher and coached volleyball and soccer.
Brittany Miles will teach 3rd grade this year at the elementary school. Ms. Miles is a graduate of White Knoll High School and the University of South Carolina where she earned a degree in Early Childhood Education. She resides in West Columbia.
Parker Evans will also teach PE this year at B-L Elementary School. Mr. Evans graduated from B-L High School in 2013 and earned a degree in Physical Education from USC. While at USC, he served as the PE Club President and was a Cum Laude honors graduate. Mr. Evans resides in B-L.
Courtney Bedenbaugh joins the BLES family as a 5th grade teacher. Ms. Bedenbaugh is a 2012 graduate of B-L High School and has a degree in Elementary Education from USC. While in school, she was listed on the Dean’s and President’s Lists and was a member of the National Honor Society. Ms. Bedenbaugh lives in Batesburg-Leesville.
Phyllis Holloway will be serving as a custodian this year at the elementary school. Ms. Holloway is a graduate of B-L High School and previously worked at J.B. Martin Company as a weaver and machine operator. She has one child, William, and resides in Batesburg-Leesville.
B-L Middle School
Shae Seelbinder will be teaching Physical Education and Health at BLMS. Mrs. Seelbinder has a degree in PE from Youngstown State University and was listed on the Dean’s List all four years that she was in school. She comes to Lexington 3 from James Island Charter High School. Mrs. Seelbinder and her husband, Kevin, have two children and reside in Lexington.
Kati Beth Knight will be working as a Special Services teacher for grades 6th through 8th this year at BLMS. Ms. Knight has a Sociology degree from Georgetown College and a masters in Instructional Accommodations from Francis Marion University. She worked as a special ed teacher in Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5 prior to coming to Lexington 3. Ms. Knight, who is originally from Kentucky, resides in Leesville.
Ashley Dyches will teach 6th grade math at BLMS. Mrs. Dyches, who is a Georgia native, earned a degree in Middle Level Education from Columbia College, where she was listed on the Dean’s List for seven semesters. Mrs. Dyches previously worked at Hopkins Middle School as a teacher and interventionist. She and her husband, Brandon, have one child and reside in Leesville.
Brandon Davis joins BLMS as a Physical Education teacher. Mr. Davis is a graduate of Dutch Fork High School and USC, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in PE and Religious Studies. Previously, he worked as the CEO of the Faithful Walk-On Foundation. Mr. Davis resides in Columbia.
Cherlyn Anderson will teach 7th grade math and science this year at B-L Middle School. Mrs. Anderson graduated Cum Laude from USC with a degree in Elementary Education. She has worked as an Education Consultant with S2TEM Centers SC and as a teacher in Lexington District 4. Mrs. Anderson and her husband, Rick, have two sons—Trent and Travis.
B-L High School
Patrick Leonhardt joins the high school faculty as a social studies teacher. Mr. Leonhardt, who is originally from Pelion, has degrees in History and Secondary Education from USC and Liberty University. He and his wife, Courtney, make their home in Irmo.
Tracy Frazier will be teaching math at B-L High School. Mrs. Frazier is a graduate of Ridge-Spring Monetta High School and USC Aiken, where she earned a degree in secondary education. Currently, she is working on her master’s degree in Christian studies and youth ministry at Grand Canyon University. Mrs. Frazier and her husband, John, have two children—Luke and Hudson.
Omar Collier will serve as a Business Ed teacher this year at BLHS. Mr. Collier graduated from Strom Thurmond High School in 1996 and earned a degree in Business Administration from North Greenville University. He and his wife, Danielle, have two children—Donovan and Amaya.
John Burgess will be re-joining BLHS this year with the Student Intervention Recovery (SIR) Program. Mr. Burgess has a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from USC and a Master of Science degree from U.S. Sports Academy in Sports Administration. Mr. Burgess and his wife, Cheryl, have two children—Julie and Jeff.
William Ash is serving as a social studies teacher this year at BLHS. Mr. Ash graduated from Stratford High School in 2010 and has a BA in History and MA in Secondary Education from USC. Mr. Ash is originally from Goose Creek.
Several new administrators joined Lexington School District 3 on July 1st and information about them has previously been shared. These administrators include:
Sonya Bryant—Mrs. Bryant, a former English teacher at BLHS, will serve as principal of BLHS this upcoming school year. Mrs. Bryant came to Lexington District 3 from Laurens District 55 High School where she also worked as principal. She holds a Masters in Educational Leadership and Supervision from Clemson University and a BA in Secondary Education from USC-Aiken. Mrs. Bryant, her husband, Brad, and son, Walt, moved back to the B-L community this summer.
Era Roberts—Mrs. Roberts joined the Lexington District 3 family on July 1st as the new Assistant Principal of Instruction for BLHS. Mrs. Roberts earned a BS degree in Broadcast Journalism and a M.A.T. in Middle Grades Education from Georgia Southern University. She also received a M.Ed., Education Administration-Secondary degree in 2015 and will complete an Ed.D. Educational Technology-Leadership degree in 2019 from USC. Mrs. Roberts previously worked in Beaufort County Schools as a teacher and in Lexington School District 2 as a teacher and secondary administration intern/technology integration specialist. She and her husband, Aaron, have twin daughters—Margaret and Claire.
Mackenzie Taylor—Mrs. Taylor assumed the role of Director of Public Information and Community Relations in July after Mrs. Judy Turner Fox retired from the district after 32 years of service. Mrs. Taylor, who is originally from Gilbert, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Business Administration from USC. Previously, she worked as a reporter/anchor for WBTW News 13 and as the Public Relations/Marketing Specialist for Kenneth Shuler Schools of Cosmetology. Mrs. Taylor is married to B-L native, Blair, and together they have two sons—Yates and Reeves.
Lexington School District 3 welcomes all of its new employees and looks forward to a great school year.
Lexington School District 3 welcomes 32 new employees this school year.
Front Row (l to r): Brittany Miles, Courtney Bedenbaugh, Shae Seelbinder, Kendall Reese, Ashley Dyches, Cherlyn Anderson, Jennifer Derrick, Whitney Coffman, Denise Houghton, Brenda Dunn
Second Row (l to r): William Ash, Samuel Shealy, Shelba Hopkins, Aubrey Steele, Adriana Maroney, Phyllis Holloway, Kati Beth Knight, Emily Seeley, Kristen Pugh
Third Row (l to r): Parker Evans, Brandon Davis, Patrick Leonhardt; Omar Collier, Megan Poirier, Tracy Frazier, Mackenzie Taylor, Jenny Hallman, John Burgess, Donna Fabrizio
Not Pictured—Ashley Huneycutt, Sonya Bryant, & Era Roberts
