District Five educator selected for statewide leadership program

Lexington-Richland School District Five English teacher LaKeyseah Brennan (Dutch Fork High) has been selected to be a part of the South Carolina ASCD Emerging Leaders Class of 2023. Brennan has been teaching for 10 years, with the last two years serving at Dutch Fork High School.

South Carolina ASCD is the state affiliate of ASCD (formerly the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development), which has 68 affiliates in the 50 states and several foreign nations.

The South Carolina Emerging Leader Program is composed of an accomplished group of educators, generally with 5–15 years of experience, who desire to become more involved in the state’s educational community. Emerging Leaders (ELs) are passionate and committed to the “Whole Child,” a belief that every child in that state of South Carolina deserves to be healthy, safe, supported, challenged and engaged.

“I am excited to be a part of the South Carolina Emerging Leader Program,” Brennan said. “I feel privileged and honored for the opportunity to grow as a leader in the education field. Also, I am looking forward to connecting and working with other leaders in the state as we focus on educational policy and best practice. Participating in this program will allow me to gain further insights into educational administration, hone my leadership skills, and develop a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities that school districts face. Attaining new knowledge and varying perspectives, I believe I will be better equipped to contribute positively and effectively to our school district.”

SCASCD Emerging Leaders are expected to share their expertise and exemplary practices with SCASCD members and the larger education community. With a track record of success, ELs leverage their passion and enthusiasm to attract high caliber people to the field and mobilize other young educators to continuously improve their practice and become education leaders.

“Ms. Brennan’s selection for the SC Emerging Leaders Program is a great honor for her and for School District Five,” said School District Five Chief of Academics Tina McCaskill. “Through this unique experience, she will be on a pathway to becoming a better leader as she works with and learns from other educational experts across the state as they work together to increase their knowledge and positively influence the educational community.”

Through engaging and structured networking experiences, South Carolina ASCD’s Emerging Leaders have many opportunities to grow their leadership skills and participate in world-class professional development.