Administrators

Rhea Faris is the new principal of Lugoff-Elgin High School.

Rhea Faris most recently served as the district’s Director of Pupil Services, overseeing student discipline, school zoning designations, student activities and athletics at the district level.

“In his current role as Director of Pupil Services and having previously served at Lugoff-Elgin High as an assistant principal, Mr. Faris has proven himself to be a leader of high integrity, exceptional instructional knowledge, and strong relationship-building. I am confident that his familiarity with the school community, combined with his district-level perspective, will ensure a smooth transition and lead LEHS into its next chapter of academic excellence,” says KCSD Superintendent Dr. Harrison Goodwin.

A graduate of Camden High School, Faris returned to the Kershaw County School District in 2018 as an assistant principal at Lugoff-Elgin High School. During his five-years at LEHS, his administrative responsibilities included overseeing the mathematics and world language departments, professional development and instruction, attendance and truancy, the ACE program, AP Capstone, and credit recovery.

Faris began his career in education in 2002 as a mathematics teacher at Laurens District 55 High School, where he chaired the curriculum and data committee. In 2007, he joined the mathematics department at Chapin High School, teaching there for six years and earning selection as the 2013 Teacher of the Year. Prior to his administrative role at Lugoff-Elgin, Faris taught for five years at Mid-Carolina High School, serving on the leadership team to help develop curriculum and implement new standards and technology initiatives for both the school and the district.

“It is an honor to be chosen as the next principal at Lugoff-Elgin High School. It is a dream to work with such a great group of people that make up the faculty, staff, and student body. I have many fond memories of my time as an assistant principal, and I am excited to be returning. I believe that Lugoff-Elgin HIgh School is, and will continue to be, a place where students can excel academically, athletically, and artistically as we strive for greater heights of excellence,” says Faris.

Faris received a Bachelor of Science degree with a minor in secondary education from Presbyterian College and Master of Arts in educational leadership with an emphasis on principalship from The University of the Cumberlands. He is currently pursuing a doctorate of education in education leadership from Gardner Webb University.

He is a member of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators.

Faris and his wife Ashley have two daughters, Margie and Sadie.

I hold a B.A. in English from Columbia College and a M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision from Southern Wesleyan University. I joined Kershaw County School District in 2007. During my career in KCSD, I have served as an English Teacher at LEHS, Assistant Principal at LEHS, and Assistant Principal at LEMS. 

I returned to LEHS in 2024 and will be focusing on curriculum and professional development. I am excited to continue serving the students, families, staff, and community of Lugoff-Elgin High School and Kershaw County. 

Degrees and Certifications:

• Bachelor of Arts in English, Columbia College
• Master of Education in Administration and Supervision, Southern Wesleyan University

Graduated from Lugoff-Elgin High in 1991. Graduated from Coastal Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education in 1995. I have been a teacher at Lugoff-Elgin Middle and High School as well as Cedar Ridge Middle (Alabama), and Dent Middle. During my 31 years of being an educator.  I have obtained a National Board Certificate and a Master's in School Leadership. I'm married to Chrissy Faulkenberry Carraway and have two children named Alex and Rylee. This is my 12th year as an administrator at L-E and I'm currently serving as the Administrator with the alphabet Cr-He. Go L-E!!!

I am excited to join KCSD as an Assistant Principal at Lugoff-Elgin High school. I join the team with 22 years of educational experience of which seven years have been in educational leadership. Most recently, I have worked in Richland County School District Two at Westwood High School where I served as an assistant administrator for three years. Prior to that, I worked in Florida as an assistant principal at Hollywood Hills High school and as a behavior specialist at Miramar High school. I served as a classroom teacher for 15 years, prior to becoming a school administrator.

Degrees:

• Associates of Science in English Education, Broward Community College
• Bachelor’s of Science in English Education, University of South Florida
• Master of Education in Reading Education , Florida International University
• Educational Specialist in Educational leadership and administration, Florida Atlantic University.

I am a 1991 graduate of Camden High School.  I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts dgeree in Secondary Education Mathematics from Clemson University in 1995.  I worked six years with WestPoint Stevens, Inc. and Springs Indsutries, Inc. prior to six years with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond as a Cash Department supervisor and manager. During my first two years at the FED, I earned my MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management.   After my departure from the Federal Reserve Bank, I worked and traveled extensively with Loomis as an Area Cash Manager in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.  In 2009, my wife and I returned to Camden with two children.  I taught mathematics and coached football at Sumter High School prior to receiving a call to return to Camden High School in 2010.  We welcomed our third child shortly after the beginning of the 2010 - 2011 school year. I completed my Master's degree in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina in August 2012. After teaching mathematics at Camden High School from 2010 - 2018, I joined the Lugoff - Elgin family in January 2019.

Degrees and Certifications:

• Clemson University, BA Secondary Education Mathematics
• Keller Graduate School of Management, Master of Business Administration
• Villanova University, Six Sigma
• The University of South Carolina, MEd Educational Administration

I am honored to serve as Assistant Principal at Lugoff-Elgin High School. Since 2016, I have taught Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 here at LEHS, and prior to that, I spent six years teaching mathematics at Sumter High School. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of contributing to mathematics education at the state level. I served on four South Carolina Department of Education committees focused on Algebra 1, including the EOC Data Review, Instructional Support Document development, Performance Level Descriptors, and Standards Unwrapping.

I am a member of several professional organizations, including the Palmetto State Teachers Association, the South Carolina Association of School Administrators, ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development), and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Outside of school, I enjoy time with my wife, Sarah, and our four wonderful children.

I’m excited about the year ahead and committed to supporting the students, staff, and families of Lugoff-Elgin High School. Go Demons!

Degrees and Certifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Secondary Mathematics Education, Miami-Dade College
• Master of Education in Administration & Supervision, Liberty University