The Pulse
Building a Tradition for Excellence
Celebrating the Class of 2026
Mullins High School and Marion High School proudly celebrated the Class of 2026 during graduation ceremonies held on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
The evening marked an important milestone as graduates were recognized for their hard work, perseverance, and accomplishments throughout their educational journey. Surrounded by family, friends, educators, and community members, students crossed the stage ready to begin the next chapter of their lives.
Congratulations to all of our graduates! We are incredibly proud of your achievements and look forward to seeing all that you accomplish in the years ahead. Best wishes as you pursue your dreams and continue to make a positive impact on your communities.
Rotary Club Honors Top Graduates
The Marion-Mullins Rotary Club proudly honored the valedictorians and salutatorians from Marion High School and Mullins High School during their annual scholarship ceremony. These outstanding students were awarded scholarships in recognition of their hard work, dedication, and academic excellence.
Congratulations to all the valedictorians and salutatorians—your achievements inspire us, and you are truly shining examples of future community leaders!
Celebrating Excellence
We proudly celebrated the Top Ten Seniors of the Class of 2026 during our annual Top Ten Tea. This special event recognizes students who have distinguished themselves through outstanding academic achievement, leadership, character, and dedication throughout their high school careers.
We congratulate these exceptional students on reaching this remarkable milestone and commend them for their commitment to excellence. We are proud of all they have accomplished and look forward to the positive impact they will make as they begin the next chapter of their lives. Congratulations to each of these outstanding graduates!
MCSD's Top Ten Seniors are Bryce Barnhill, Devin Bryant, Christian Cornejo-Garcia, Shakira Graves, Ivan Morley, Brianna Phillips, Journie Rivera, Don'Nasia Robinson, Michael Rogers, and Takhye Williams.
New Aviation Program Takes Flight
We are proud to partner with Dillon School District 3 and Dillon School District 4 to launch an innovative Aviation Program—the only multi-district aviation partnership of its kind in South Carolina.
Made possible through a grant from the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission, the program features state-of-the-art flight simulators and industry-standard technology, giving students hands-on learning experiences while preparing them for careers in aviation and aerospace.
The program will serve students from Marion High School, Mullins High School, Dillon High School, Lake View High School, and Latta High School, expanding access to specialized career and technical education opportunities across the region.
This collaborative effort reflects the districts' shared commitment to preparing students for high-demand, high-skill careers while strengthening the future workforce. By working together, these school districts are providing students with innovative educational experiences that will help them succeed in college, careers, and beyond.
Evening with the Stars Celebrates Excellence
An evening of celebration and appreciation honored the exceptional employees and retirees who make a lasting impact across Marion County School District during the annual Evening with the Stars Gala. The event recognized retirees whose combined service exceeded 500 years of dedication to education while celebrating outstanding employees for their commitment to students and schools.
Congratulations to our district honorees:
- District Teacher of the Year: Renee Odom, Academy of Early Learning
- Emerging Teacher of the Year: Tiffany Joyner, Academy for Careers and Technology
- Support Staff of the Year: Kenosha Hyman, Marion High School
- Bus Driver of the Year: Amanda Smith
Special thanks to Hidden Acres, Donny Gerald, Pretty, Set, Go, and our generous sponsors—Anderson Brothers Bank, Pee Dee Federal Savings Bank, and HTC—for helping make this memorable evening possible.
Teacher of the Year
Renee Odom
Academy of Early Learning
Emerging Teacher of the Year
Tiffany Joyner
Academy for Careers and Technology
Support Staff of the Year
Kenosha Hyman
Marion High School
Bus Driver of the Year
Amanda Smith
Honoring a Lifetime of Service
May Board Recognitions
Congratulations to the talented students and staff recognized by the Marion County Board of Education during the May meeting.
Mullins High School
The Mullins High School Track Team capped off an outstanding season with an impressive performance at the SCHSL State Championship Meet. Nathan Peracki earned a third-place finish in the Boys 800-Meter Run while setting a new school record with a time of 1:59. The Boys 4x400-Meter Relay Team—consisting of Terrance Pittman, Nathan Peracki, Julian Pee, and Jayden McCray—also had a remarkable showing, placing 7th in the state among 16 competing teams.
The district also celebrates Angela Ford, who achieved the impressive accomplishment of qualifying for the 100-meter and 200-meter State Finals as a seventh-grade student, demonstrating exceptional talent and determination.
Creek Bridge STEM Academy
Congratulations to the outstanding students from CBSA who have been accepted into the Early College Program. This remarkable achievement reflects their academic excellence, dedication, and commitment to future success.
We are incredibly proud of each of these students and look forward to watching them excel as they begin this exciting new chapter in their educational journey. (Ashleigh Sanders, Taneyah Thompson, Drew Fling, Shania Staggers, Bria McGee, Cameron Anderson, and Aalyss'ah Slaughter)
Creek Bridge STEM Academy
Congratulations to the students of CBSA who were recognized for their outstanding creativity and writing skills in this year's Essay and Poster Contest. We are proud of each student for their hard work and dedication.
Essay Contest Winners
5th Grade: Riley Phillips (1st), Dallas Davis (2nd), Kamani Godbolt (3rd)
6th Grade: Kacy Sanders (1st), Jeremiah Woodberry (2nd)
7th Grade: Laila Fields (1st), Messiah Wilson (2nd), Sincere Rich (3rd)
8th Grade: Taneyah Thompson (1st), Faith Weeks (2nd), Ashleigh Sanders and Landon Collins (3rd – Tie)
Poster Contest Winners
1st Grade: Josiah Woodberry (1st)
2nd Grade: Jayvon Cameron (1st)
4th Grade: Carmen Anderson (1st)
6th Grade: Ashton China (1st), Malik Cameron (2nd)
8th Grade: Shania Staggers (1st), Taneyah Thompson (2nd)
Building Brighter Futures, One Book at a Time!
A heartfelt thank you to Teach Them To Reach Them for their generous gift of a book for every student at the Academy of Early Learning! This amazing organization, founded in memory of the beloved teacher Susie Hill, is dedicated to supporting early literacy and empowering young learners. Their mission is truly making a difference in building a brighter future through education.
Rebellious Readers Take the Stage
Our middle school students brought their love for literature and American history to life at the Marion County 250 Battle of the Books! From start to finish, this friendly competition was filled with excitement, teamwork, and a true passion for reading.
We are so proud of our Rebellious Readers – Marion County 250 for their enthusiasm and dedication. It was clear—these students didn’t just read the books… they lived them!
A special thank you to Anderson Brothers Bank for sponsoring this wonderful event and supporting literacy in our schools.
We also appreciate the Marion County 250 committee and our amazing coaches from Palmetto Middle School, Johnakin Middle School, and Creek Bridge STEM Academy for guiding and encouraging our students every step of the way.
Creek Bridge STEM Academy Earns Wellness Award
Congratulations to CBSA on being awarded the 2025–2026 MUSC Boeing Center for Children’s Wellness Award! This outstanding recognition highlights CBSA’s commitment to promoting student health, wellness, and overall well-being. We are incredibly proud of the staff, students, and school community for their dedication to creating a healthy and supportive learning environment.
Celebrating a Legacy of Leadership
We recently celebrated the retirement of Dr. Kandace Bethea, honoring her years of dedicated service and outstanding leadership.
Staff, students, families, community members, and friends gathered for a special retirement drop-in to express their appreciation and celebrate Dr. Bethea’s remarkable career. The heartfelt messages, shared memories, and well wishes reflected the tremendous impact she has made throughout the district.
Dr. Bethea’s unwavering commitment to student success, passion for education, and servant leadership have left a lasting legacy in MCSD. Her vision and dedication have strengthened our schools and inspired countless students, educators, and community members.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. Bethea for her years of service and wish her happiness, good health, and many blessings as she begins this exciting new chapter. She will always remain an important part of the MCSD family.
Summer Projects Are Underway Across MCSD!
We're investing in our schools this summer to ensure our students and staff return to safe, welcoming, and updated learning environments for the new school year.
Some of the exciting improvements include:
Fresh paint throughout our schools
New LED lighting in high school gymnasiums
Fresh mulch on playgrounds
Upgraded weight rooms
And many more enhancements across the district!
Administrative Changes for 2026-2027 School Year
Saluting Our Practical Nursing Graduates
Congratulations to the graduating class of the Marion County School of Practical Nursing. MCSD has no doubt that you will achieve remarkable success in your future endeavors.
Driving Student Success
Dr. Bethea hosted a Transportation Advisory Meeting to recognize and hear from members of the district's transportation team. The meeting provided an opportunity for discussion and collaboration while highlighting the important role bus drivers play in safely transporting students each day. Thank you to Awaken Coffee Bar for hosting the meeting.
Leading Our District Forward
Dr. Gamble has most recently served as Chief of Schools for the Sumter County School District. In addition to her duties as Chief of Schools, Dr. Gamble has served as Acting Superintendent of the Sumter County School District for most of the 2025-2026 school year. Dr. Gamble brings a broad range of experience to the District, having served as a teacher and an administrator at the building and District office levels for more than twenty years.
"Our Board was very pleased with Dr. Gamble's experiences and background," said Board Chairperson Kevin Dozier. "We believe Dr. Gamble's past experiences make her a great fit for our District, and she has the attitude and skill set to continue to move our District forward during this time of transition in a way that will benefit our students, their families, and our community. Dr. Gamble has indicated that she is excited to get to know our students and families as well as our employees and other members of our community, and she looks forward to serving as Interim Superintendent."
Don't forget to register for the 2026-2027 school year!
Registration Site: https://marion-sc.finalforms.com/
