Here is a photo gallery from the Dillon District Four New Teachers Luncheon held at Twin Lakes Country Club. The complete story appears in the Tuesday issue of The Dillon Herald.

CLICK ONCE ON A PHOTO TO BRING IT INTO A SINGLE SCREEN AND THEN AGAIN TO ENLARGE

By Betsy Finklea
A luncheon to welcome the new teachers employed by Dillon School District Four was held at the Twin Lakes Country Club on Wednesday, August 3rd.
District Four has over 30 new employees this school year.
Dr. Polly Elkins, Assistant Superintendent for Personnel and Administration, welcomed the group and extended regrets from Superintendent Ray Rogers, who was unable to attend. After some opening remarks, the invocation was given by Jason Gunter, Assistant Principal at Dillon High School.
Those in attendance then enjoyed a delicious lunch.
After lunch, remarks were given by Dillon County Board of Education Chairman Richard Schafer, who has served on the board for 28 years. He spoke about the role of the Dillon County Board of Education and the $75 million in school projects that were done with no property tax increase. He introduced the administrative team and the District Four board. Schafer said it has been amazing to watch Dillon grow. He thanked the new teachers for choosing Dillon as their place of employment.
Lynn Liebenrood, Director of Student Services, then offered brief remarks.
The new district employees and the new teachers from each school were introduced.
The following is a brief introduction of each new employee provided by Dillon District Four:

District
Timothy Gibbs – Dillon High School Principal: Dillon School District Four welcomes Timothy Gibbs. He comes to us from Florence District Two where he has served since 2008. He earned his Bachelor’s in mathematics education from Clemson University. He obtained his Master’s Plus 30 in school administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Gibbs brings 19 years of experience to Dillon High School.
Mamie Tedder – Payroll/ Benefits Analysis Manager: Tedder resides in Darlington. She comes to Dillon School District Four from Florence School District One. She received her Bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from Francis Marion University. She earned her Master’s degree from Webster University in business administration. Tedder has 30 years of experience.
Lynne Davis – School Psychologist: Davis is from Dillon. She is a previous employee with Dillon School District Four. She will be one of the District’s school psychologists. She has 18 years of experience in her field of study. Davis earned a Bachelor’s degree from Columbia College in biology and psychology and a Master’s Plus 30 from Francis Marion University in applied and school psychology.
Laura Ellison – School Psychologist: Ellison is from Myrtle Beach. She did her internship in school psychology with Horry County Schools. She has a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Coastal Carolina University. She earned her Master’s Plus 30 in applied and school psychology from Francis Marion University.
Michelle Gaster – Speech Therapist: Gaster is from Pamplico. She will be the District’s speech therapist. She has a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Coastal Carolina University. She earned her Master’s degree in speech-language pathology/ audiology from S.C. State University. Gaster brings 10 years of experience to Dillon School District Four.

Dillon High School
James McMillian graduated from University of North Carolina-Pembroke and has his Master’s Plus 30. He recently moved to Dillon from Cheraw where he taught at the high school. In addition to being in the classroom, he will coach our Varsity Lady Cats basketball team.
Trisha McCallum is from Blenheim. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree from Francis Marion University. McCallum comes to Dillon Four from Florence School District One with five years of experience. She will teach science at Dillon High School.
Ryan Young has recently moved to Little Rock from Union. He comes from Union County Schools with eight years experience. Young will teach business and coach football at Dillon High School. He has a Bachelor’s degree in business marketing and computer technology.

Lake View High School
Kathryn Britt is from Fairmont, NC. She is a retired educator with 32 years of experience. Britt graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University.
Terri Little lives in Dillon. She was previously a media specialist at Dillon High School. Little has a Master’s degree from A&T State University and Georgia Southern University. She brings 25 years of experience to Lake View High School.
Stephen Gaskins resides in Lumberton, NC. Gaskins is a retired N.C. educator and administrator with 33 years of experience. He obtained his Master’s degree from East Carolina University.
Allie Elvington resides in Lake View. She is a Lake View High School graduate. Elvington received her Bachelor’s degree from Francis Marion University. She will be in the PEC Department at Lake View High School.
Kent Lovett is from Tabor City, NC. He is a retired N.C. educator and administrator. He received his Master’s degree from UNC Pembroke.

Dillon Middle School:
Ella Mae McLaughlin is from Lumberton, NC. She is a retired N.C. educator with 28 years experience. McLaughlin received her Master’s degree in elementary education and administration from Fayetteville State University.
Joseph Gleason is from Fork. He will be the new career specialist at Dillon Middle School. Gleason was previously employed at Lake View High School where he taught agriculture. He received his Master’s degree from Clemson University and has 13 years of experience.
Scott Haselden resides in Latta. He comes to Dillon School District Four from Florence School District One. Haselden has a Master’s Plus 30 from The Medical University of South Carolina and Francis Marion University. He was previously a S.C. Vocational Rehabilitation counselor. He will teach special education at Dillon Middle School.
Gloria McLean is from Laurinburg, NC. She is a previous employee of Robeson County Schools. McLean brings eight years of experience to Dillon Middle where she will teach middle level math. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Francis Marion University.
Mavis Livingston resides in Fairmont, NC. She received her Master’s degree from UNC Pembroke. Livingston is a retired N.C. educator. She brings 28 years of experience to Dillon Middle where she will teach business.
Martha Pighet currently resides in Rowland, NC. She is a retired N.C. educator with more than 30 years in education. Pighet holds a Bachelor’s degree from UNC Pembroke. She will teach math and science at Dillon Middle School.
Mary Lou Sealey is from Fairmont, NC. She is a retired N.C. educator with 32 years of experience. Sealey graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor’s degree. She will be a special education teacher at Dillon Middle School.
Sharon Green resides in Fayetteville, NC. She comes from Robeson County Schools with several years of experience. Green has a Master’s in education and administration from Grand Canyon University.

Gordon Elementary School:
Joseph Hedgepeth is from Dillon. He received his Bachelor’s degree from UNC Pembroke. Hedgepeth did his student teaching at Pembroke Elementary School.
Angelia Furnace resides in Mullins. She holds a Bachelor’s Plus 18 in elementary education from Coker College. Furnace comes to Gordon Elementary with nine years of experience.

South Elementary School:
Vernita Scarborough lives in Dillon. She graduated from Francis Marion University with a Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. She was previously employed at Easterling Primary School. Scarborough has four years of classroom experience.
Sherika Ford resides in Dillon. She graduated from Winthrop University with a Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. Ford has two years of classroom experience. She comes to Dillon School District Four from Dillon Christian School.
Jonathan Griggs is from Latta. He has a Bachelor’s of music from University of South Carolina. Griggs did his student teaching at Aynor Elementary and Waccamaw High School.

Stewart Heights Elementary School:
Alison Huggins resides in Nichols. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Francis Marion University in elementary education and a Bachelor’s degree in marketing from Clemson University. Huggins did her student teaching at Stewart Heights Elementary School.
Elisabeth Morris is from Darlington. She has a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Francis Marion University. Morris did her student teaching at McLaurin Elementary School in Florence.

East Elementary School:
Leigh Ann Moody is from Dillon. She is a graduate of Coastal Carolina University. She has a Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. Moody did her student teaching at Aynor Elementary School.
Kimberly Branch is a resident of Lumberton, NC. She is a retired N.C. educator with more than 30 years of experience. Branch received her Master’s degree from UNC Pembroke.
Lacey Gaster is from Darlington. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Francis Marion University and a Master’s degree from Columbia College. Gaster comes to Dillon School District Four from North Vista Elementary School in Florence with eight years of classroom experience.

Lake View Elementary:
Shirbey Johnson is from Lake View. She is a retired N.C. educator and comes to Dillon School District Four from Marion County Schools. Johnson graduated from Benedict College with a Bachelor’s degree. She brings 25 years of classroom experience to Lake View Elementary.
Sarah Lane resides in Latta. She graduated from Francis Marion University with a Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. Lane did her student teaching at Briggs Elementary School in Florence.