New principal leads Strom Thurmond High in Edgefield County

EDGEFIELD, S.C. (WJBF)- Edgefield County School District is the second county in the CSRA kicking off the new school year.

It uses a year-round calendar like Aiken County, so summer is a little shorter.

For teachers there’s something new this year. They can wear jeans year-round.

The Superintendent did this as a pilot program the last few years and said there was an obvious boost in happiness.

“We have a new policy that has a sunset clause for next summer. We are allowing teachers to wear jeans year round this year. We’ve done a pilot of that the past few years. For a couple of months. Our philosophy is that we want teachers to be comfortable. We want them to be happy,” said Kevin O’Gorman.

Strom Thurmond High School also has new principal this year – Kristin Risher who comes from North Augusta.

She’s only three weeks in, but she’s been prepared for this day.

“The previous principal and I go way back and she’s made sure that I have a smooth transition ready to come in. Our faculty is great. Our community is wonderful, so it’s been a really seamless process. My husband is from Edgefield. He graduated from Strom Thurmond. So it’s almost like coming home for me and for our family,” said Risher.

Risher also says they will implement new expectations and spend the first three days explaining them.

Photojournalist: Dania Alawir