SUPERINTENDENT

Phone:

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

University of South Carolina Aiken Bachelor of Arts in Education University of South Carolina Master of Education, Educational Administration

Mr. King Laurence

King Laurence serves as the Superintendent for the Ï㽶ӰÊÓ.

King Laurence was named Superintendent of Ï㽶ӰÊÓ on February 18, 2020, after serving as interim superintendent since September 10, 2019. With an educational career spanning more than three decades, Laurence is an experienced administrator dedicated to the Aiken County community’s future. A graduate of the University of South Carolina Aiken in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education, Laurence received his Master’s Degree in Educational Administration in 1990 from the University of South Carolina.

After twelve years as a teacher and assistant principal in Edgefield County Public Schools, Laurence moved to Aiken County in 1998, assuming the role as principal at Cyril B. Busbee Elementary. He has since served in a variety of leadership roles for Aiken County Public Schools, including Director of Federal Programs (2005-2012), Associate Superintendent for Instruction and Accountability (2012-2016), and Chief Officer of Administration and Human Resources (2016-2019).

On the state level, Laurence has been involved with the South Carolina Association of Title I Administrators, serving as that organization’s president from 2010-2011. He is a member of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA) and currently serves on the board of the South Carolina School Improvement Council.

Locally, Laurence is on the boards of the American Heart Association for the CSRA, the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce, and Our Community Salutes - Midlands. He is also a member of the Aiken County Commission for High Education, the Aiken County Commission for Technical and Comprehensive Education, and is a past president of the Rotary Club of Aiken-Sunrise. He is a former member of the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center Advisory Board, Education Matters, and was a charter member of the Aiken County First Steps Partnership Board of Directors.

Awards include the Robert E. Alexander Outstanding K-12 Administrator of the Year, the National Association of Federal Education Program Administrators State Leadership Award, and the South Carolina Improvement Council Advocate of the Year.

Laurence and his wife, Teri, have been married for more than 30 years and have two daughters. He is a Deacon and Sunday School Director for Shaws Fork Baptist Church, where Teri serves as Music Director and pianist.

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM SUPERINTENDENT LAURENCE

  • ACPSD Family,

    Part of Aiken County Public Schools’ stated mission is to establish a culture of quality defined by integrity, optimism, unity, and service. Our nation is hurting right now, and it seems as if optimism and unity are as far away as I have ever seen. Restoring optimism and establishing unity will require integrity and a servant's heart. Restoration begins with all of us having the courage to be honest about our own biases and to recognize that we are shaped by the experiences of our own journeys. I am not color blind. I could not have served as an educator for more than three decades without recognizing the struggles that so many of my students experienced and continue to experience with poverty and prejudice. I know that injustices such as what we are again witnessing have a deep and profound impact on our students and their families.

    I join hands with my many friends, neighbors, and colleagues in love and solidarity and with a true desire to see our nation and its communities healed. I pray that we will see beyond our own experience and recognize the role we must all play in disrupting racism and repelling the hate and oppression that continue to surface in our society. I recognize the power in education to catapult families from poverty and to propel us forward. I am committed to protecting the rights and dignity of each employee, student and family with a goal to work as one team of varied colors, talents, and gifts in service to our community.  

    The most recent Superintendent's Report was presented to the school board on September 27, 2022. I invite you to review the goals and progress of last year by visiting the 2021-2022 Superintendent Goals through the navigation on the left, or simply clicking on the words "Superintendent's Report." 

    King Laurence, Superintendent

COLUMNS BY AIKEN COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT KING LAURENCE

  • 'We Must Accept Our Differences, Find Common Ground'

    Some of the people I care most about see things very differently than I see them. It is much easier to build relationships with people who are like ourselves, but it is worth the effort to build bridges and cultivate relationships with those who are different.

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  • Embracing a Spirit of Gratitude

    'Embracing a Spirit of Gratitude'

    We talk a lot about being ONE TEAM in Aiken County, but what does it mean? It means recognizing that while our schools alone can and do make a difference, a school system and a community that are united can make a greater and longer-lasting difference, not only in the lives of our students, but on the community as a whole.

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