Kelly Edwards Elementary School is helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate through the collaboration of all stakeholders. Our faculty, staff, and leadership team are all invested in building partnerships with families and the community in ways that benefit our students today and in the years to come. Our School Improvement Council and Parent Teacher Organization both go above and beyond to help us plan and implement special events such as Read Across America celebrations and our annual Night with the Stars to laud students with academic achievements. Many area churches and local businesses support not only the everyday workings of our school but also provide a great deal of assistance to help overcome the challenges faced by schools with high-poverty demographics by volunteering as reading buddies and providing weekend snack packs.

Collaboration is also a key component of our instructional framework. Teachers work together in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to plan instructional units using the SC College and Career-Ready Standards, to evaluate best practices, and to discuss ways to utilize technology in order to foster creativity, enhance communication skills, and build critical thinking. Two school-wide initiatives, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Multi-Tier Systems of Support (MTSS) ensure that a common language is in place for both faculty and staff so that families are aware of both expectations for success and the processes in place to provide more assistance if needed.

In order to continue to develop world-class skills in our students, we are in a constant state of self-reflection. It is our deepest hope and desire that we’ll produce future high-school and college graduates that will compete on a global scale and show our state, country and world just what students from a rural area can achieve! Thank you for your continued support.

Nakeisha Baxley, Principal

Mattie Odom, School Improvement Council Chair