DARLINGTON, S.C. – The Darlington County School District (DCSD) has announced the 2023-24 School Support Staff of the Year. Each of the district’s 21 schools has a School Support Staff Person of the Year.
“Congratulations to our support staff on this well-deserved honor,” said Dr. Tim Newman, DCSD superintendent. “You serve admirably in support roles that make our schools thrive. Your impact reaches far beyond the walls of our classrooms, and your influence on our students will last a lifetime.”
All of the school winners were chosen through a schoolwide vote. Each School Support Staff of the Year will serve as a key advisor on the Superintendent’s Support Staff Cabinet and will go on to compete for the DCSD District Support Staff of the Year.
The 2023-24 School Support Staff of the Year are:
- Ronequa Mason, Teacher Assistant, Bay Road Elementary School
- Carolyn Andrews, Student Data Manager, Brockington Elementary Magnet School
- Heather Norwood, Secretary/Bookkeeper, Carolina Elementary School
- Shaniqua Bennett, JAG Instructor, Darlington High School
- Charleen Gardner, Teacher Assistant/Interventionist, Darlington Middle School
- Quendolyn Bines, Student Data Manager/Attendance Clerk, Darlington County Intervention School
- Steve Waiters, Custodian, Darlington County Institute of Technology
- Nichole Thomas, Secretary/Bookkeeper, Darlington County Virtual Academy
- Karen Stewart, Guidance Secretary, Hartsville High School
- Jaliyah M. Thomas, Custodian, Hartsville Middle School
- Timothy Ballard, Secretary, J.L. Cain Elementary School
- Bessie Allen, Teacher Assistant, Lamar High School
- Angela "Danielle" Mendiola, Secretary, Lamar-Spaulding Elementary School
- Laura Byrd, Secretary, Mayo High School for Math, Science, and Technology
- Jessica Polson, Cafeteria Manager, North Hartsville Elementary School
- Virgil Wells, Teacher Assistant, Pate Elementary School
- Shauna Gregg, Student Data Manager/Media Assistant, Rosenwald Elementary School
- Easter Arthur, 5K assistant, Southside Early Childhood Center
- Shannon Johnson, Career Specialist, Spaulding Middle School
- Mildred Morant, Custodian, St. John's Elementary School
- Cynthia Davis, Secretary/Bookkeeper, Thornwell School for the Arts
- Robin Gilmore, Darlington area bus driver, Transportation Department
Each winner will receive a cash award and be a key advisor on the Superintendent’s Support Staff Cabinet. A District Support Staff Person of the Year will be chosen from the pool of school winners and will be announced later this year.