On Tuesday, June 14, 2022, the Lexington County School District One Board of Trustees approved four administrative hires to the position of assistant principal.

● Brandan W. Craig to assistant principal of Carolina Springs Elementary School

● Mark T. Garner to assistant principal at Gilbert Elementary School

● Ryan W. Carpenter to assistant principal of Gilbert High School

● Joshua S. Black to assistant principal at Pleasant Hill Middle School

Brandan W. Craig joins the Lexington District One family after serving as the coordinator of the elementary virtual school program in Richland County School District One. An educator for 10 years, Craig stepped into the classroom in 2012 at Brooklyn Springs Elementary School in Lancaster County School District to teach first grade. Craig then moved to Loris Elementary School in Horry County Schools to teach first grade. In 2014, he moved back to Lancaster County School District to teach fourth and fifth grades at Heath Springs Elementary School. Craig then moved to Rock Hill, York County School District 03, to teach fifth grade at Old Pointe Elementary School in 2016. In 2017, Craig was promoted to assistant administrator at Grove Elementary School in Greenville County School District. He then transferred to serve as assistant principal at Crowders Creek Elementary School in York School District 02 and Clover Virtual Academy in Clover School District #2 in 2018. He joined Richland One in 2021 to serve in his current position.

Craig received a Bachelor of Arts in early childhood education from University of South Carolina Upstate and a Master of Education in administration from University of South Carolina. He is certified in early childhood and elementary education, and as a Tier I elementary principal. He also has a Read to Succeed endorsement. He is a board member on the Lancaster Soil and Water Conservation District, and a past board member of The Children’s Council in Lancaster County.

Mark T. Garner currently serves as a social studies teacher at Lexington High School where he teaches U.S. history, world history and AP world history. An educator for more than 15 years, Garner joined the Lexington District One family in 2007 to teach at Lake Murray Elementary School. For six years, he taught second through fifth grades at LMES, then at Pleasant Hill Elementary School, before 

moving to Lexington Middle School in 2013. Garner moved to LHS in 2021. In addition to teaching, he also founded and coaches the LMS Fishing Team. A fluent French speaker, Garner served as co-coordinator and chaperone for the Lexington One French Exchange Program for six years, working with educators and families in Lexington District One and Clermont-Ferrand, France.

Garner graduated from University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in educational administration. Garner has served on the AVID Site Team at LHS, and has certifications in Leader in Me and International Baccalaureate. He is a mentor teacher, 4.0 evaluator, AdvancED Formative Site Evaluator and an S.C. CERRA Mentor Teacher trainer for Lexington District One. Garner was a member of the Lexington One Teaching Children of Poverty Cohort, is certified in Teaching Students of Poverty and is a Google-certified teacher. He also holds Gifted and Talented and College Board endorsements. He is a member of the Palmetto State Teachers Association. In 2017, Garner joined the Lexington District One Aspiring Assistant Principal Cohort.

Ryan W. Carpenter is transferring to Gilbert High School after serving as the assistant principal at Carolina Springs Middle School, a position he has served in since 2016. An experienced educator and assistant principal, Carpenter joined the Lexington District One family in 2006 to teach computer science/digital literacy at Pleasant Hill Middle School when the school opened. During his 10 years at PHMS, he served as the technology, leadership and physical education department head and school leadership team member, as well as the school’s athletic director from 2014–16. In 2016, the district promoted Carpenter to assistant principal of CSMS, his current position.

Carpenter received his Bachelor of Science in business administration from College of Charleston. He earned both a Master of Arts in teaching and business education and a Master of Education in educational leadership from University of South Carolina, where he received the Peabody Award and the S.C. Business Education Association Award of Merit. He is a member of the Computer Science Teachers Association and the S.C. Association of School Administrators.

Joshua S. Black joins the team at Pleasant Hill Middle School after serving as the director of administration in Edgefield County School District. Black has spent the past 19 years in education, starting his career in 2003 in Saluda County School District as a math teacher at Saluda Middle School. He also served as the head middle school basketball and assistant football coach. In 2007, he transferred to Strom Thurmond High School in Edgefield County School District to teach algebra. There he served as a varsity assistant football and head JV baseball coach. In 2010, he was promoted to head varsity baseball coach. During the 2013–14 school year, Black completed a principal internship at Strom Thurmond High School, which led to him being promoted to assistant principal in 2014 and principal in 2015. In 2019, Black was promoted to director of instructional services at Edgefield County School District, then became the director of administration, his current position, in 2021.

Black received a bachelor’s degree in middle grades education from Mars Hill College, in Mars Hill, N.C. He then earned a master’s degree in education administration from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. He is certified in math grades six–nine, as well as elementary and secondary principal. He is a certified SCTS 4.0 evaluator and trainer, ALICE trainer and “I Love U Guys” reunification trainer. Black is also a certified first responder and licensed bus driver, who has served on the S.C. Department of Education Financial Literacy Board and SCASA Instructional Leaders Board.