SC-SIC Staff
SC-SIC Executive Director
Cassie Barber, MA
barber2@gwm.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 went on to serve seven years as SC-SIC Associate Director and was appointed Executive Director upon the 2007 retirement of Dr. Jean Norman.
In addition to her years of service with SC-SIC, several years on the staff of the Alliance for South Carolina's Children and work with the SC Healthy Schools initiative at the SC Department of Education have made Cassie familiar with the education, health, social, and economic issues facing our state's parents and children. She was honored by the SC Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1999 as the Child Advocate of the Year and is also the recipient of the Cameo Award from Hope for Kids-SC and the Pat on the Back Award given by the SC Public Health Association. Cassie continues to serve the community by participating on various boards and committees including the Richland County Foster Care Review Board and the SC Truancy Advisory Council.
Cassie holds a Masters degree in Human Behavior and Conflict Management from Columbia College and has successfully completed a yearlong program as a SC Education Policy Fellow. The Fellows program, which is part of a national program of the Institute for Educational Leadership in Washington, DC, provides professional development in implementing public policy on the local, state, and national levels.
SC-SIC Director of Program Services
Tom Hudson
hudsontf@gwm.sc.edu
Tom Hudson brings years of experience to SC-SIC from working in communications in the Beaufort County School District, at the SC Department of Probation and Parole, BellSouth, and as a newspaper staff writer. He has gained specialized expertise and interest in school improvement councils as a district contact, a local SIC vice-chair and as a SC School Improvement Council Board of Trustees member. His professional work has won awards from the National School Public Relations Association, the SC National School Public Relations Association and the Public Relations Society of America.
Tom has a demonstrated passion for and commitment to school improvement councils. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion and Philosophy from Maryville College and has completed numerous Professional Development classes and seminars.
SC-SIC Senior Council Specialist
Diane Jumper, MEd
jumperd@gwm.sc.edu
Diane Jumper is one half of the SC-SIC Council Specialist team providing dynamic support to school improvement councils in SC from schools receiving an "unsatisfactory" on their report cards. Council Specialists make visits to schools and districts, where they conduct on-site training on SIC roles and responsibilities and parent/community involvement.
Diane is a former school administrator who is highly respected in the SC education community and has significant expertise and experience in facilitating parent and community involvement in education. After retiring from Lexington District One, Diane joined the staff of the SC Association of School Administrators, where under her direction South Carolina became a leader in the Schools of Promise initiative spearheaded nationally by General Colin Powell. Diane holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Newberry College and a master’s in education from the University of South Carolina.
SC-SIC Council Specialist
Barbara Weston, MEd
westonbf@gwm.sc.edu
Barbara Weston is an award-winning former classroom teacher and district-level administrator, having been named Teacher of the Year from Keenan High School and Five Points School, and District Teacher of the Year from Richland School District One. She has also been honored as a SC Honor Roll Teacher and a National Milken Educator Award Recipient and is a past member of the SC State Board of Education and the National State Boards of Educators. As a former member of the SC School Improvement Council Board of Trustees, Barbara brings a specialized understanding of the roles SICs play within the school community as she provides intensive support to those school improvement councils whose schools have received “unsatisfactory” report card grades.
Barbara holds a BA from SC State University, a Masters of Education from Cambridge College, and is a Doctoral Candidate in Education Leadership at Nova Southeastern University.
SC-SIC Public Information Coordinator
Claudia Wolverton
wolverto@gwm.sc.edu
Public Information Coordinator Claudia Wolverton manages our public information systems as editor, copywriter and graphic designer of the statewide SIC newsletter, “Council News”, as web designer for the SC-SIC website and database administrator of the SIC state membership database. Claudia uses her skills with a variety of professional software products to design and manage production of the SC School Improvement Council’s printed and web-based materials and other media, and contributes insight and direction to short- and long-range planning for all SC-SIC technology initiatives.
A University of South Carolina alumnus, certified computer-assisted designer and public relations professional, Claudia brings over twenty years of graphic design, computer technology and communications experience to provide information and resources to SICs across South Carolina.
SC-SIC Business Manager
Debra Williams
debra@gwm.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.