At Thomas E. Kerns Elementary School, we proudly support Greenville County Schools' Graduation Plus initiative—Cultivating Superior Graduates: Producing Career and College Ready Students. This year, we celebrated 20 years of the dedication and collaboration of our staff, students, families, and community partners whose collective efforts continue to elevate student achievement and strengthen our school community.
Our mission is to develop successful, accountable, and respectful lifelong learners. We fulfill this mission by investing in exceptional educators and support staff who are committed to providing high-quality instruction and meaningful learning experiences for every child. Through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), instructional coaching, and ongoing professional development, our teachers continuously refine Tier I instruction to ensure all students have access to rigorous, engaging learning opportunities.
Teachers collaborate weekly through PLCs to analyze student data, reflect on instructional practices, and implement strategies that improve student outcomes. Combined with our commitment to meeting the academic, social-emotional, and behavioral needs of every student, these efforts have resulted in significant accomplishments, including our removal from the state's school priority list. We are especially honored to have received the 2025 Superintendent's Awards for academic improvement in both English Language Arts and Mathematics.
Creating a positive school culture is a shared responsibility. Our administrative team, campus support specialist, mental health counselor, social worker, and school counselor work collaboratively to foster a safe, respectful, and supportive learning environment. Through daily social-emotional learning, classroom guidance, restorative practices, and recognition programs such as Student of the Month, academic achievement awards, positive behavior incentives, and attendance celebrations, students are encouraged to grow both academically and personally.
Learning extends well beyond the classroom. Students have opportunities to participate in a variety of enrichment programs, including Student Council, Beta Club, Good News Club, Girls on the Run, Cub Scouts, Robotics, STEAM Lab, Spanish Club, Crocheting Club, Gardening Club, Chorus, and the WTEK Morning News Show. These experiences help students develop leadership, creativity, collaboration, and confidence while preparing them for future success.
Our vision is to cultivate a culture of excellence that embraces students, staff, families, and the community. Our school social worker plays an essential role in connecting families with resources such as food, clothing, school supplies, and community services through partnerships with local churches and organizations. In return, our students learn the importance of service by participating in an annual toy drive and food drive that support families in need.
Family engagement remains a cornerstone of our success. Our Parent Involvement Coordinator (PIC) and Title I Facilitator provide monthly workshops that equip families with strategies to support academic achievement, social-emotional development, and positive behavior at home. The PIC has recruited more than 30 dedicated mentors and many volunteers while also establishing English classes for parents and Spanish classes for teachers, strengthening communication and fostering meaningful relationships between home and school.
Although our school does not currently have a functioning PTA, we are fortunate to partner with ScanSource, a global company headquartered in Greenville County, which has embraced this important role. ScanSource has become an invaluable partner by sponsoring community events, recognizing staff and students, funding and chaperoning field trips—including opportunities designed for our multilingual families—and volunteering throughout the school year. They have also engaged additional community partners to expand their support of our students and families, further strengthening the connection between school and community.
Our School Improvement Council continues to champion literacy through initiatives such as creating home libraries for students, promoting our 10,000 Book Challenge, and supporting our One Book, One School program. At the same time, our leadership team has secured grants to strengthen novice teacher mentoring and sustain our implementation of Conscious Discipline, ensuring continued growth for both students and staff.
At Thomas E. Kerns Elementary School, we are more than a school—we are a caring community united by a shared commitment to excellence. Together, we inspire students to dream boldly, lead with character, achieve at high levels, and become lifelong learners prepared for success in college, careers, and life.
