KCSD announces Melinda Johnson as Jackson School principal and Meredith Kirkland as WTC assistant director
At the May 7 Board of Trustees Meeting, the Kershaw County School District Board of Trustees approved Melinda Johnson as the new principal of Jackson School and Meredith Kirkland as assistant director of Woolard Technology Center (WTC.) Johnson replaces Estelle Benson, who is retiring at the end of the 2023-2024 school year, and Kirkland replaces Rose Montgomery, who is now the Camden High School principal.
“We are excited to welcome Melinda Johnson as the new principal at Jackson School. She is a respected instructional leader in our district, known for fostering a love of learning and community, and I’m confident that Jackson School will continue to thrive under her leadership,” says Dr. Harrison Goodwin.
Johnson is currently an assistant principal at Doby’s Mill Elementary, where she has served for three years. Prior to this, she served as a Primary Talent Development Coach and a fifth-grade co-team leader in Silver Spring, Maryland. She also spent 10 years as a Title One facilitator, reading coach, and fourth and fifth grade teacher in North Charleston and Manassas, Virginia from 2006-2016.
“I am excited to join the Jackson School team! I have fond memories of attending the school years ago, so getting the opportunity to return as principal is surreal. It's an honor to lead the next generation of Jackson students and build on the school's legacy of student leadership. I'm excited to collaborate with the entire Jackson family to achieve great things together,” says Johnson.
Johnson earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from South Carolina State University and a Master of Education in Administration and Supervision from Southern Wesleyan University.
She is a member of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators. She completed the CEEL Assistant Principal Foundations workshop and the CEEL Aspiring Principals program. She is a SC Lead Evaluator, is CPI certified, and has a Read to Succeed Endorsement.
Johnson and her husband AJ reside in Camden with their children, Kaelyn and Gavin.
Kirkland joins WTC with eight years of school administration experience. She currently serves as an assistant principal at North Central High School. Prior to this, she served as a Curriculum Effectiveness Specialist at E.L. Wright Middle School and a Digital Literacy Instructor at Camden Middle School. She began her teaching career at Camden High School in 2005, where she was a Business Teacher, Teacher Cadet Instructor and the Business Department Chair.
"WTC's dedication to its students is truly inspiring, and I'm honored to collaborate with such a talented faculty and staff. My expertise in career and technology education will allow me to contribute directly to the growth and development of these future leaders as they pursue diverse career paths," says Kirkland.
Kirkland earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations, a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Management, and a Master’s of Education in Educational Administration, all from the University of South Carolina.
“We are excited to have Mrs. Kirkland join the WTC team. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position of assistant director. Her background in both the business world and working at both the middle school and secondary levels will help us as we continue to grow and expand our CTE programs in the district,” says Woolard Technology Center Director Gordon Morris.
She is a member of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators. She participated in the SCASA CEEL Institute for Aspiring Principals program in 2020, the Foundations in School Leadership program in 2017, and was named a Kershaw County Honor Roll Teacher of the Year in 2013.
Kirkland and her husband Doug reside in Camden with their daughter, Mary Bradley.