This Week

For decades, Roy Ann Jolley has served as an educator in Florence 1 Schools. She began her educational career in the early 70's as an instructional assistant at Holmes Elementary School. In the mid-70's, she became a teacher at Holmes where she worked until 1980. From 1980 until 1992 she taught at Theodore Lester Elementary; from the early 90's to the year 2000, she was curriculum coordinator at Briggs Elementary. Since 2000, she has served as principal at Delmae Heights Elementary.

Revered and respected by her peers, Principal Jolley was named the Florence 1 Schools Principal of the Year in 2014. She has also been known as an educator's educator. One complete example lies in how one of her former students describes his experience with her. Dr. Eric Robinson, Principal of Wilson High School said, “Ms. Jolley was my first-grade teacher, and she was like a mother to all of us. She made me feel like I could do anything.”

1. Early Morning Preparation & Staffing (6:30 AM – 7:45 AM)

2. Instructional Leadership & Classroom Observations (7:45 AM – 11:30 AM)

3. Midday Operations & Data Meetings (11:30 AM – 1:45 PM)1:45 PM – Early Sign-Out Cutoff:

4. Dismissal & Post-School Wrap-Up (1:45 PM – 3:00 PM+)

Post-Conference Reviews: Meets individually with teachers to review lesson planning and evaluation feedback.

5. Evening Community Engagement

To see the expanded schedule follow this link: A Typical Day for Roy Ann Jolley, Principal, Delmae Heights Elementary School.

Principal Roy Ann Jolley continuously receives expressions of gratitude (both orally and written) from parents, teachers and students, especially like the one from student Jeremiah (note pictured).

Even though she has influenced thousands, she began inspiring students at home with her earliest learners, daughters LaKesia Jolley-Foster, Andrea Jolley and son Bobby Jolley, all now serving in the field of education.

"My mom inspired me with her commitment to her work and her love for kids. Even when she was teaching 2nd grade at Theodore Lester when I would walk through the halls, it was obvious how much her students loved and respected her. Even now people, whom she taught 30 years ago, come up to me and explain the impact she had on them. I wanted to have that same impact," said Bobby Jolley, a Behavioral Specialist and Coach at Southside Middle School.

"I have watched my mom in action as an educator since I was a student at Theodore Lester Elementary where she was teaching at the time. She inspired me because she truly believes in doing what is best for children, and I try to mirror her belief in my own capacity as a school administrator," said Andrea Jolley, Assistant Principal at Sneed Middle School.

“My mother’s 50+ years in education—from serving as a classroom assistant to leading as a principal for more than 25 years—have been the blueprint for my own journey. Her dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to children inspired me throughout my 31 years in education, including the last 12 years serving as an assistant principal and principal. I am not simply following in her footsteps; I am carrying forward a legacy of service, leadership, and love for education that began long before my own journey. Her example reminds me that leadership is more than a title—it is a lifelong commitment to making a difference in the lives of others," said Lakesia Jolley-Foster, Principal at Cradock Elementary, Portsmouth Public Schools. Pictured (Ms. Jolley at the beginning of this year with some staff members emphasizing this year's theme at Delmae: One Team, One Dream.

"Working with Mrs. Jolley has by far been the most impactful and meaningful opportunity I’ve had as a professional. She consistently leads with intention, cultivating and empowering others to make a lasting impact within the school community and pouring into her staff and students, " said Nadia Bull, Assistant Principal at Delmae. "I would describe her leadership style as collaborative and transformational, grounded in the belief that a strong school is built through teamwork and the intentional development of others," she added.

"I get to work wih a leader who has given her whole career to this community and has been in education for over fifty years," said assistant principal Matthew Cote'. "I am so fortunate to experience her leadership in the calm, thoughtful way she handles every situation. She leads by example and with heart, keeping the focus on what is best for our students. She knows our children and families, and she makes everyone on our team feel that their work matters."

Principal Jolley is flanked by Assistant Principals Nadia Bull and Matthew Cote'.

Florence 1 Schools continues to see gains in student achievement, according to the newest state report cards issued by the South Carolina Department of Education.

Five schools in Florence 1 improved their overall report card rating for the 2025-2026 school year. Briggs, Dewey L. Carter, and Timrod Elementary Schools all moved from an Average rating to Good. Royall Elementary School earned an Excellent rating after being rated Good the previous year, as did South Florence for the first time in the school’s history.

Students in grades three through five showed improvement on SC READY English Language Arts (ELA). Third-grade students recorded the greatest growth among the district's elementary grades, with 69 percent meeting or exceeding expectations, outperforming the state. District-wide, the percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations increased in ELA.

Read more: https://florence1schools.link/QOWMrXq.

For an upclose view of each of the high school perfect scores visit South Florence High School, West Florence High School, and Wilson High School. To view by the numbers, visit Fall 2025 EOCEP Perfect Scores.

Open enrollment is here. During this period, employees can add, drop or change insurance coverage until October 31, 2026. Learn more at peba.sc.gov/oe.

Follow these steps to learn about open enrollment and make changes:

1. Go to the open enrollment webpage to learn what changes you can make.

2. Download the open enrollment worksheet available on the open enrollment webpage to plan your coverage for 2027.

3. Log in to MyBenefits to review your coverage and make changes during open enrollment, if necessary.

PEBA’s open enrollment webpage.

There are occasions when employees contact the Benefits Specialists months after Open Enrollment has ended to report that something is incorrect with their elections or payroll deductions or that they forgot to make an important change.

Please take a few minutes now to carefully review your:

• Benefit enrollments and coverage elections using MyBenefits
• Payroll deductions using Etrieve
• Beneficiary designations for retirement accounts using MemberAccess
• Beneficiary designations for insurance benefits using MyBenefits

Taking the time to review this information now can help prevent errors, missed elections, or other issues later. Please make any necessary updates before Open Enrollment closes at midnight, October 31.

If you need additional assistance, contact your Benefits Specialists in the Florence 1 Schools Office of Human Resources: Renee Prosser, (renee.prosser@fsd1.org) if your last name begins with A-J or Kamara Sanders (ksanders@fsd1.org) if your last name begins with K-Z.

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of music and community pride as Florence One Schools presents its First Annual High School Marching Band Showcase this Monday, October 26th at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are free and available only at the gate.

The South Florence High Marching Bruins, the Wilson High Marching Tiger Pride, and the West Florence Marching Knights will come together in Knight Stadium for one spectacular evening. The event will open with a stirring performance of the National Anthem featuring over 550 players, followed by each band's exciting competitive field show. We'll also welcome a very special guest performance by the Benedict College Marching Tigers!

The evening will conclude with all four bands joining together for a powerful performance of "America the Beautiful."

This exciting new annual tradition will rotate among our three high school stadiums, bringing our schools and community together in celebration of music and marching band excellence!

Please join us this Monday October 26th at 7:30 pm at West Florence HS, Knight Stadium!

One Table Florence is a celebration of unity, compassion, and the power of community. One Table Florence provides FREE Thanksgiving meal and the experience of dining at a shared table with members of the community. The event takes place from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and is 100% free to attend, so no one is excluded and barriers are removed.

It will be held in Timrod Park at the Lawton Chase House. Volunteer and support opportunities are available at www.onetableflorence.com. Consider giving back by volunteering, or attend and enjoy a wonderful meal.

What is One Table Florence?

Born from a similar 20-year old event in Aiken, SC, One Table Florence aims to bring a community Thanksgiving dinner to one of Florence's most iconic parks, a time to share space, build community, give back, or simply enjoy fellowship of our diverse community. As we gather at Timrod Park for One Table Florence, let us remember the true essence of the holiday season--gratitude, togetherness, and the joy of giving.

Take the time to review these facts and beneficial information provided by McLeod Health:

https://www.mcleodhealth.org/services/care/cancer-center/breast-health-center/

For more information, go to: stopbullying.gov.

Friday night's schedule for October 23 - South Florence (Bruins) will travel to North Myrtle Beach; West Florence (Knights) will host James Island Charter High School (Charleston) and the Wilson (Tigers) will host Myrtle Beach.

Can't make the games? Download the Florence 1 App; find the Athletics icon; navigate to your football program for results.