DARLINGTON, S.C. – Jim Faile is everywhere, though he is rarely seen. The quiet journalist from The Hartsville Messenger has covered the news of Darlington County for more than 35 years. On Friday, Nov. 1, however, he became the story when the Darlington County School District (DCSD) Teacher Forum presented Faile with the 2019 Jimmy Newsom Signature Award during the annual DCSD Education Forum.
Named in honor of former DCSD Superintendent Jimmy Newsom, the award is presented annually by the school district’s Teacher Forum to an individual, group, or business who made a significant contribution to education in Darlington County.
Faile began his newspaper career 35 years ago by covering a Darlington County Board of Education meeting. Since then, Faile has attended hundreds of board meetings, work sessions, graduations, award ceremonies, and school events. His work over the past 35 years has created a nuanced, comprehensive history of the Darlington County community and the Darlington County School District.
“With his extensive knowledge of the education system, education funding, and the Darlington County School District, Jim writes articles that distill complex ideas or events into understandable and readable stories,” said Dr. Tim Newman, superintendent. “His work allows our community to understand better how our district operates and how our students learn. We truly appreciate his efforts.”
Previous Jimmy Newsom Signature Award honorees include CareSouth Carolina, S.C. Speaker of the House Jay Lucas, Duke Energy, and former DCSD Superintendent Dr. Rainey Knight. Faile is the 21st recipient of the prestigious award.
The Darlington County Teacher Forum is a teacher leadership organization composed of the 23 school Teachers of the Year, as well as current and former District Teachers of the Year. The Darlington County School District serves more than 10,000 students in 23 schools across the county.