Darlington County School District announces finalists for superintendency
The Darlington County Board of Education has named four finalists for district superintendent. Working with search consultant and former superintendent Dr. Rainey Knight, the board evaluated 25 applicants and interviewed nine before narrowing the search to the finalists. The four are (alphabetically) Dr. Chandar Anderson, Chesterfield County School District (South Carolina); Dr. Donna Hargens, Jefferson County Public Schools (Louisville, Kentucky); Dr. Tim Newman, Orangeburg Consolidated School District 4 (South Carolina); and Dr. Kevin O’Gorman, Berkeley County School District (South Carolina).
Dr. Chandar Anderson
Chandar Anderson, Ed. D., is the assistant superintendent for personnel in the Chesterfield County School District, which operates 17 schools that serve 7,200 students. During his education career, he also served as a principal in multiple districts, including Florence School District One, an executive director of personnel, an assistant principal, and a teacher. He coached both middle school and high school basketball teams. Dr. Anderson earned his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Claflin University, his Master of Science in Educational Leadership at Nova Southeastern University, Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership at Wingate University, and his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Wingate University.
Dr. Kevin O’Gorman
Kevin O’Gorman, Ph.D., is the chief academic officer of Berkeley County School District, serving 34,000 students in 42 schools. Before moving to the Berkeley County School District, Dr. O’Gorman worked in the Aiken County School District as associate superintendent for instruction and accountability, an elementary school principal, an assistant principal of a middle school, and a visiting professor at Western Carolina University. He has also been a middle school teacher and a coach. He has published several articles and presented extensively at the state and national levels. Dr. O’Gorman earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Spring Hill College. He earned a Master of Arts in Secondary Teaching, a Master of Education in Elementary Education Administration, and a doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina. He is currently the President-Elect of the South Carolina Association of School Administrators Instructional Roundtable.
Dr. Donna Hargens
Donna Hargens, Ed.D., served most recently as the superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, Kentucky, which operates 150 schools for more than 100,000 students. She has also served as the chief academic officer for Wake County Public Schools, interim superintendent of Wake County Public Schools, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, and Western area assistant superintendent. Dr. Hargens has been a principal, an assistant principal, and a high school teacher. She earned a Bachelor of Arts at Marquette University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She holds a Master of Education in Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership, Management, and Policy from Seton Hall University. She has written numerous professional articles and presented extensively across the country.
Dr. Tim Newman
Tim Newman, Ed.D., is the superintendent of Orangeburg Consolidated School District 4, which serves 3,700 students in eight schools. During his education career, he has also served as assistant superintendent for human resources and public relations, interim chief financial officer, executive director of operational services and accountability, information and technology services in Pickens County School District, assistant principal, business teacher, technology coordinator, and athletic director. Before entering the education field, he worked in retail management and administration. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Financial Management and a Master of Arts in Economics from Clemson University. He earned a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration from the University of South Alabama and a doctorate in Educational Administration from South Carolina State University.
Full résumés of all four finalists will be on the district’s website at www.darlington.k12.sc.us. by the end of the day Wednesday.
The finalists will visit the Darlington County School District, meet with the Darlington County Board of Education, and participate in a series of meetings with employees and community members before the end of the month. Drs. O’Gorman and Hargens will be in the district Feb. 21-22. Drs. Anderson and Newman will be in the district Feb. 26-27. The community meetings will be announced soon. Board members hope to name the new district superintendent by mid-March.
