Keith Price has been selected as the superintendent-elect/superintendent for Lexington County School District One.

“We are delighted to announce Mr. Keith Price as our new superintendent-elect/superintendent. Mr. Price brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of leadership to help Lexington One guide all students to learn, grow and excel,” Lexington One Board of Trustees Chair Anne Marie Green said in a release. “As we considered the superintendent-elect position in light of the significant and heavy work ahead for Lexington One, our board believes Mr. Price possesses the experience and knowledge in district-level strategic planning, public school funding, instructional leadership, and management of complex operations systems that are so extremely important for us right now.

“Most importantly he values building relationships, seeking input from parents and teachers, and helping to create a place where students can succeed and people want to work.”

Earlier this year, according to former reporting from the Chronicle, the current superintendent, Gerrita Postlewait, indicated she might leave before her five-year contract is up and she made a recommendation to the board to amend a portion of her contract, changing the empty deputy superintendent position into a superintendent-elect and thus the search began for the superintendent-elect that will eventually be the superintendent.

“I was really blessed by the board with a five-year contract, next year will be the third year of the five-year contract,” Postlewait said earlier this year. “Looking ahead for succession planning, I think it's in the district's best interest to advertise rather than a deputy position, the superintendent-elect position which would make it clear that the person coming in as superintendent-elect would eventually serve as superintendent when I step down.”

And at the April 16 meeting, the board approved the motion to execute an employment contract with Price for superintendent-elect effective July 1, 2024. It’s a one-year term as superintendent-elect at an annual salary of $210,000. The board also authorized an employment contract with Price as superintendent of Lexington One effective July 1, 2025, and it provides for a four-year term as superintendent at an annual salary of $236,000, according to the release.

“Lexington One is a phenomenal district,” Price told the Chronicle earlier this month, adding that numerous locals had shared with him that they desire to see more efficiency within the district. “There is so much to be proud of – strong academic reputation, successful athletic programs, numerous arts opportunities for students and you've got an engaged community. … There seems to be a lot of excitement about consistency and continuity and getting systems in place.”

Here is more about Price, per information in the release from the district:

Mr. Price began teaching in 1996 at Greenville County School District after graduating from Clemson University with a degree in secondary mathematics education. A native of Camden, S.C., Mr. Price returned to the Midlands in the fall of 1996 to teach at Dent Middle School in Richland School District Two.

After four years in the classroom at Dent Middle, Mr. Price moved to Ridge View High School in Richland Two where he held a dual role of teacher/assistant administrator before being promoted to assistant principal at E.L. Wright Middle. He then went on to serve from 2003–07 as the middle school’s principal and from 2007–14 as the principal of Blythewood High. Before becoming the superintendent of Georgetown County School District, Mr. Price held the position of assistant superintendent for Richland Two starting in 2014 through 2020.

In addition to being a seasoned educational leader, Mr. Price is deeply involved in community activities and professional organizations. He supports several educational boards and committees, including the Coastal Carolina University Board of Visitors and the University of South Carolina Superintendent Advisory Committee. His leadership extends to civic involvement through membership in the Rotary Club of Georgetown and participation in the Pee Dee Education Consortium Board of Directors.

Mr. Price’s contributions to education are further recognized through his role as a Furman University Riley Institute Diversity Fellow, highlighting his commitment to enhancing educational leadership and community engagement. Through his extensive experience and ongoing dedication to educational improvement, Mr. Price continues to shape the academic landscape in South Carolina, fostering growth and excellence within the communities he serves.

He furthered his education at the University of South Carolina, where he earned a Master’s in Education Administration, followed by an Education Specialist degree from USC, and is presently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Education Systems Improvement from USC.

Former reporting from the Chronicle details the meet and greet the district hosted earlier this month for the finalists.

Chris Ballenger and Erin Slater were the other two finalists and each of them as well as Price were present at the April 8 meet and greet where members of the public and the district got to shake their hands and ask them for their plans should they be selected.

Ballenger is the current superintendent of Warren County Public Schools in Virginia and holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Southwestern College.

“I think it’s important that we keep our focus on students,” he told the Chronicle, adding that he would work to address classroom capacities. “I would be a part of a team that would come in to make sure that if we have those staffing standards put in place that we're giving our teachers an opportunity to be in an environment that's really conducive to learning because now they're able to manage, now they're able to get that one-on-one because it's the relationships that drives education.”

Slater is the current superintendent of Fort Madison Community School District in Fort Madison, Iowa and she holds a doctorate in education from Northern Illinois University.

“[Lexington One] is extremely impressive on paper and even more impressive in person,” she told the Chronicle, adding that the meet and greet gave her the chance to hear from locals that they have concerns with organization and hope that the new superintendent can address that. “[I want to] make sure that there's equity for students so they have equal access to programming, equal access to facilities, equal access to instructional, that instructional strategy that will elevate them for their pathway whether they want to be in a college pathway, a career pathway or a military pathway.”

The final round of interviews took place after the meet and greet and Price was selected for the position during the April 16 board of trustees meeting.