Stephanie Smith, Principal, Fountain Inn High School – With more than two decades of experience in education, Ms. Smith is a dynamic and dedicated leader who has served the students of our District in a variety of roles, including biology teacher, volleyball coach, Assistant Athletic Director, and Athletic Director at Riverside High School; Assistant Principal at Wade Hampton High School, Riverside High School, and in her current role at Mauldin High School; and at the District level as Secondary Science Academic Specialist.

As assistant principal, Ms. Smith gained a strong foundation in school operations and leadership as she organized major community events; led professional development initiatives; supervised science, career and technical education, and college- and career-readiness programs; and implemented programs promoting student achievement as well as fair and consistent school structural practices. During her time in the Academics Department, she oversaw the integration of new state science standards, supported science teachers District-wide, and designed the eLearning curriculum. She also facilitated professional development to increase instructional rigor and capacity for all students. Ms. Smith was involved in the design of the science labs during the construction process of Fountain Inn High School and worked closely with the instructional team during the school’s launch.

Ms. Smith holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Pre-Med from Virginia Tech, a Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary Science/Biology from East Tennessee State University, and a Master of Education in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina. She is a graduate of the GCS Aspiring Principal Institute and Instructional Leadership Academy, and was honored as the Athletic Director of the Year for 4A Region 2. This spring, Ms. Smith was named the GCS Assistant Principal of the Year at the annual Salute to Education banquet.