AIKEN --- A line of more than 200 teachers, parents and community members snaked around Schofield Middle School on Tuesday night waiting to shake the hand of Aiken County's new top educator, Dr. Beth Everitt.
The meet-and-greet event was the first opportunity the public had to meet the superintendent since she began her job earlier this month.
"I was pleasantly shocked she already knew the name of my school," said Joyce Culp, a Langley-Bath-Clearwater Middle School teacher. "She's very personable and very friendly. I really did want to put a face to her name so I would feel more comfortable when I was around her in the future."
Dr. Everitt has a goal to visit all 41 Aiken County schools by Feb. 8.
Tuesday night's event gave the superintedent a chance to meet people from throughout the community, including Patricia Bido, a Midland Valley High School teacher.
"I'm new to the area and have only been here two years," Ms. Bido said. "I hear these names all the time, but I don't know who they are, even some of the school board members. I'm always in my classroom, so I never get to meet people."
Ms. Bido said she's looking forward to some of the new ideas Dr. Everitt is planning to bring to the school district.
"I'm from New York and she's from New Mexico, so it's nice to know there's someone here who could put a new spin on things and might see education differently," she said.
An early large turnout at the event, which ran 11/2 hours, was impressive, Area 5 Assistant Superintendent Randy Stowe said.
"We even have our school board members here, and that's a nice touch for the people waiting," he said.
Though the crowd consisted mostly of adults, the few students in attendance said the chance to meet Dr. Everitt was worth more than the extra credit they were getting.
"I'd probably never get to see her unless it was on the news or in Wal-Mart, so this is a great opportunity," said Adam Ewing, 17, a student of the Aiken County Career and Technology Center. "This lets us see that she's not some big person in her office all day."
Reach Julia Sellers at (803) 648-1395, ext. 106, or julia.sellers@augustachronicle.com
BETH EVERITT
AGE: 53
FAMILY: Husband, stepson, 4-year-old granddaughter
FORMER POSITION: Superintendent, Albuquerque (N.M.) Public Schools
TIME COMMITTMENT: Dr. Everitt signed a 31/2-year contract
SALARY: She will earn $160,000 annually, $2,000 higher than the former superintendent
EDUCATION: Educational administra-tion certification, University of New Mexico, 1984; doctorate in special education and public administration, University of New Mexico, 1983; master's in special education, East Carolina University, 1979; bachelor's degree in special education, East Carolina University, 1976
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
Back 
