SC-SIC Staff
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 and was named Executive Director in 2007. Several years on the staff of the Alliance for South Carolina's Children have made her familiar with the education, health, social and economic issues facing our state's parents and children. Prior to joining the SC-SIC staff, Cassie also worked as a consultant for the SC Healthy Schools initiative at the SC Department of Education.
The SC Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics honored Cassie as the Child Advocate of the Year in 1999. 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. Cassie continues to serve the community by participating on various boards and committees including the South Carolina Fair Share Board of Directors and the SC Chapter of the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future.
Cassie holds a Masters degree in Human Behavior and Conflict Management from Columbia College and was recently awarded a scholarship to participate in the Diversity Leaders Initiative sponsored by The Riley Institute at Furman University. She 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 F. Hudson
hudsontf@mailbox.sc.edu
Tom F. Hudson brings a strong and diverse background to SC-SIC from his work in communications, public information, media/constituent relations, and advertising with the Beaufort County Schools, BellSouth, the SC Department of Probation and Parole, and as a former freelance writer, newspaper reporter and columnist. As Director of Program Services, Tom serves as a clinical faculty member with the University of South Carolina College of Education and provides 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 as a SC-SIC Board of Trustees member. Tom’s professional work has won awards from the National School Public Relations Association, the SC Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association and the SC Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. 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 he has completed an assortment of professional development opportunities and trainings related to education, public/media relations, quality improvement, and organizational leadership.
SC-SIC Senior Council Specialist
Diane Jumper, MEd
jumperd@mailbox.sc.edu
SC-SIC Council Specialist Diane Jumper provides dynamic support to School Improvement Councils in SC for schools receiving an "At Risk" rating on their report cards. Diane visits schools and districts, conducting 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 Public Information Coordinator
Claudia Wolverton
wolverto@mailbox.sc.edu
A member of the SC-SIC staff since December 2004, Public Information Coordinator Claudia Wolverton directs communications and publications as editor and designer of the SC-SIC newsletter, Council News (a 2008 winner of the SC Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association's "Rewards for Excellence" award), and as SC-SIC graphic designer, webmaster, and manager of the online membership database, SC-SIC Member Network. This innovative network is unique to SC-SIC and is the only product of its kind in the state’s public education community, documenting thousands of individuals devoted to advancing civic engagement in public education in South Carolina.
Highly skilled in a variety of professional software products, Claudia designs and manages production of all SC-SIC printed and web-based materials and electronic media, and also provides direction and insight to short- and long-range planning for all SC-SIC technology initiatives. A certified computer-assisted designer, Claudia brings over 20 years of graphic design, computer technology and communications experience to provide information and resources to SICs across the state.
Claudia is a former counselor and advocate with the Epilepsy Foundation of South Carolina and previously a member of the United Way of the Midlands Speakers’ Bureau. She holds the Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Concentration in Studio Art and English from the University of South Carolina and is currently enrolled in the USC Sociology Masters graduate program and the USC Certificate of Graduate Study in Women’s and Gender Studies program.
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.