Darlington’s Govan is elected SCSBA Secretary/Treasurer
Charles Govan, who represents District 6 on the Darlington County School Board. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Charles Govan, a member of Darlington County School District’s (DCSD) Board of Education, was installed as secretary/treasurer of the South Carolina School Boards Association’s (SCSBA) Board of Trustees during Delegate Assembly, SCSBA’s annual business meeting, held Saturday, Dec. 3, in Charleston.
The assembly is part of the association’s Legislative Advocacy Conference each year, which serves as the precursor to the upcoming legislative session.
Govan joins seven others elected to the SCSBA board by delegates hailing from the state’s 73 school boards.
The others include: President, Gail Hughes, Dorchester School District Two, President-Elect, Michele Branning, Fort Mill School District (York Four), Region 6 Director, Dr. James Smith, Kershaw County School District, Region 10 Director, Hannah Priester, Hampton County School District, Region 13 Director, Scott Childers, York School District One, Region 14 Director, Dr. Sarah Simmons, Spartanburg School District Two, and Region 15 Director, Glenda Morrison-Fair, Greenville County School District.
In addition to the election of association officers, delegates adopted resolutions to guide the association during the 2023 legislative session and approved proposed changes to the SCSBA Constitution and Bylaws.
Govan was educated at Christ the King Catholic School and Wilkinson High School before receiving a bachelor’s in social studies from Claflin University and a master’s in social work from the University of South Carolina. He also attended Francis Marion University, South Carolina State University, the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy and the S.C. Department of Corrections Academy.
He began his career in education in 1967 as a teacher and coach at Edgewood High School in Ninety-Six, S.C. From 1968-1991, Govan was employed with the Neighborhood Youth Corp. in Orangeburg, S.C., the S.C. Alcohol and Beverage Commission, the S.C. Department of Mental Health and the S.C. Department of Youth Services. In 1991, Govan decided to return to a career in education as a teacher and coach in Lee County School District. He retired from public service in 2007, as a teacher from Marlboro County High School in Bennettsville, S.C.
He is married to Carolyn McCoy Govan, a former DCSD art teacher. Govan is a past chairman of the DCSD Board of Education and a member of the S.C. School Boards Insurance Trust Board of Directors.
