SC-SIC Executive Director
Cassie Barber, MA
barber2@mailbox.sc.edu
Known for her work as a child and family advocate, Cassie Barber joined the SC School Improvement Council staff as Director of Program Services in December 1999. She has served as SC-SIC Executive Director since July 2007.
Prior to joining the SC-SIC staff, Cassie worked as a consultant for the SC Healthy Schools initiative at the SC Department of Education and for the Alliance for South Carolina’s Children. While working for the Alliance Cassie led a coalition of more than 40 nonprofit organizations that worked on a common legislative agenda for children that addressed education, health, social and economic issues facing our state’s families.
In 1999, the SC Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics honored Cassie as the Child Advocate of the Year. She is also the recipient of the Cameo Award from HOPE Worldwide-SC and the Pat on the Back Award given by the SC Public Health Association. Her community activities include serving on the Richland County Foster Care Review Board and the SC Fair Share Board of Directors.
Cassie holds the Masters degree in Human Behavior and Conflict Management from Columbia College. She is a 2009 Fellow of the Diversity Leaders Initiative sponsored by The Riley Institute at Furman University. In 2005 Cassie successfully completed a yearlong program as a SC Education Policy Fellow and she now serves as the state coordinator for the program. The Fellows program, which is part of a national program of the Institute for Educational Leadership in Washington, DC, provides professional development in implementing education policy on the local, state, and national levels.
SC-SIC Associate Director
Tom F. Hudson
hudsontf@mailbox.sc.edu
Tom F. Hudson joined the SC-SIC staff in 2007, bringing a strong and diverse background to School Improvement Councils from a 20-year career in communications, public information, media/constituent relations, and news reporting in the public, private, and education sectors. As Associate Director, Tom serves as a clinical faculty member with the University of South Carolina College of Education providing training, technical assistance, and other vital support to SIC members, educators, and public officials statewide. In addition to assisting the Executive Director and the SC-SIC Board of Trustees with program and policy development, he also coordinates the annual Riley School Improvement Award process.
He has a demonstrated commitment to civic engagement in public education as both a practitioner and a parent, and he has gained specialized expertise with SICs as a district SIC contact, a local SIC vice-chair and member, and as an SC-SIC Board of Trustees member. Tom’s professional work has won awards from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), the SC Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (SC/NSPRA), and the SC Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (SCPRSA). He currently serves as vice president of SC/NSPRA, and throughout the years, he has presented numerous trainings and workshops at professional conferences on the local, state, and national levels.
In the community, Tom has served with several charitable, civic and faith-based organizations. He is a past member of the Beaufort County First Steps Partnership Board and was education committee chair for the Greater Columbia Community Relations Council. Tom holds the Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and Philosophy from Maryville College (Tenn.), and is a Diversity Fellow of the Riley Institute at Furman University. He has completed an assortment of professional development opportunities and trainings related to education, public/media relations, quality improvement, organizational leadership, and community mediation.
SC-SIC Public Information Director
Claudia P. Wolverton
wolverto@mailbox.sc.edu
A graphic and web designer and member of the SC-SIC staff since December 2004, Public Information Director Claudia Wolverton directs all SC-SIC websites, publications, and technical communications and information. She is the analyst behind the online School Improvement Council membership database, the SC-SIC Member Network, and serves as editor and designer of the SC-SIC newsletter, Council News, a winner of the SC Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association's "Rewards for Excellence" award.
Highly skilled in a variety of professional software products, Claudia designs and manages production of all SC-SIC printed and web-based materials, electronic media, social media, and provides direction for short- and long-range planning for SC-SIC technology initiatives. She brings over 30 years of graphic design, art, Professional Development, and technology and communications experience to provide information and resources to SICs across the state.
Claudia holds the Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Concentration in Studio Art and English from the University of South Carolina and the Certification in Web Design from the University of South Carolina. She engages in Educational and Professional Development on a continuing basis in keeping with the demands of advancing technology and the SC School Improvement Council's growing effectiveness and performance.
SC-SIC Council Specialist
Karen Utter
sic@mailbox.sc.edu
Karen Utter joined the SC-SIC staff as a Council Specialist in November 2010. Karen brings a wide range of experience and outstanding communication skills to the position, developed over a career that has included the practice of labor and employment law and teaching numerous trainings and workshops on legal issues for non-lawyers. She has extensive experience providing legal and policy advice to non-profit organizations, and has worked with members of non-profit boards on developing bylaws and conducting effective board meetings. Karen is a certified mediator in South Carolina where she has served as a volunteer in the Magistrate’s courts, and has also completed training in meeting facilitation. Karen graduated from Kalamazoo College in Michigan with a BA in Political Science, and earned her J.D. from American University’s Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C.
As an SC-SIC Council Specialist, Karen assists local SIC’s with a variety of needs from the SC-SIC office, and provides administrative support for the SC-SIC office and staff. She will also be conducting trainings and providing additional technical support in the field to local SIC members.
SC-SIC Business Manager
Debra Williams
debra@mailbox.sc.edu
Debra Williams serves as Business Manager to SC School Improvement Council, bringing over 20 years experience in budget and fiscal management to the position. A longtime University of South Carolina staff member, Debra began her USC career in the Department of Biological Services in 1978. In 1996 she accepted the position of Business Manager at the USC Department of Statistics, eventually moving to the College of Education in 2006. In addition to the services she provides to SC-SIC, Debra also serves as Business Manager for the Department of Educational Studies and the Department of Leadership and Policies in the USC College of Education.