Fort Mill School Board Honors Top Educators, Reviews 4K Expansion and Construction Projects

FORT MILL, S.C. — The Fort Mill School Board met Tuesday, August 19, 2025, for a packed agenda that included special recognitions, program updates, construction reports, and a superintendent’s update on the new school year.

Teacher and Support Staff of the Year Recognized

The evening began with one of the district’s most anticipated announcements — the naming of the 2025–2026 Support Staff and Teacher of the Year.

Support Staff of the Year: Jamale “Coach” Foster, instructional assistant in the self-contained Special Services classroom at Catawba Ridge High School. He was honored for his impact on students and the school community and received an engraved award, $1,500 direct deposit, a weekend at Springmaid Mountain, an extra personal day, a Jostens ring, and a gift basket.
Teacher of the Year: Dr. Katie Jenkinson, Lead Teacher at Banks Trail Middle School, was recognized for her leadership and dedication. She received a one-year car lease from Stateline and the Mills Automotive Group, an engraved award, $1,500 direct deposit, a weekend at Springmaid Mountain, an extra personal day, a Jostens ring, and a gift basket.

4K Program Update

Mrs. Jocelyn Young and Mrs. Kim Coolidge presented an update on the district’s growing 4K programs, which currently serve 268 students at seven locations through a mix of half- and full-day offerings. Instructional priorities include:

Oral language gap identification and targeted strategies
Social-emotional screening and explicit instruction
Play-based learning aligned with benchmarks
Early intervention and equity measures

The district is preparing to expand 4K capacity with the planned Paradise Early Childhood Center, scheduled to open in 2026. Leaders emphasized that early investment will help close achievement gaps before kindergarten and set the foundation for long-term student success.

Advanced Placement and Dual Credit Expansion

Dr. Gales Scroggs highlighted the district’s continued expansion of AP and dual credit programs, which now include partnerships with USC Lancaster, Winthrop University, and York Technical College. More than two-thirds of Fort Mill students graduate with college credit through AP, dual credit, or Project Lead the Way courses.

Scroggs noted that these programs give students valuable exposure to college-level work, boost GPAs, and provide potential tuition savings while preparing them for higher education and careers.

Construction Projects Progressing

Mr. Jim Britton of Leitner Management Group provided updates on several major construction efforts:

Flint Hill Elementary – Substantially complete June 2, 2025; certificate of occupancy issued June 25. Road improvements finished by August 1.
Flint Hill Middle School – On track for completion in July 2026.
Paradise Early Childhood Center – Site clearing set to begin; building bid package expected in September; completion planned for summer 2026.
Catawba Ridge Cosmetology Program – Completed August 1, 2025.
Fort Mill High Arena Addition – Foundations underway, with completion expected in summer 2026.
Nation Ford High Field House – Construction to begin August 25, completion summer 2026.
Training and Support Renovations – Bids expected in early September, completion planned for March 2026.

Superintendent’s Report

Superintendent Grey Young reported that the district has successfully opened the 2025–26 school year with more than 18,200 students enrolled. He acknowledged traffic challenges during drop-off and pick-up times but said the district is working with Fort Mill and Tega Cay police, as well as state agencies, to find long-term solutions.

Young also celebrated new U.S. News & World Report rankings that placed all three Fort Mill high schools among the top in South Carolina: