Roberson elected as new Marlboro Co. superintendent 7/4/2009 12:21 AM
Submitted article Longtime Aiken educator Dr. Frank Roberson has been named superintendent of schools in the school district of Marlboro County.
On Wednesday, by an 8-1 vote, the Marlboro County school board selected Roberson to lead the district beginning with the 2009-10 school year, according to the district.
Board Chairman John McInnis cast the only opposing vote in the selection of Roberson.
"I fully intend to support Dr. Roberson as our new superintendent," McInnis said. "I am sold on his qualifications. I guess I'm just from the old school, but I am concerned that his family will not be moving here with him. I am a banker, and in the banking business when you take a job, you live in the community."
Roberson emerged as the top candidate from among 40 applicants in a national search conducted by the South Carolina School Boards Association. The selection of Roberson came after two very comprehensive interviews with the Marlboro County Board of Education, a full day of interviews with district administrators, principals, teachers and the community in a public forum.
Roberson is presently an educational consultant, evaluator and entrepreneur with The Roberson Group, an educational improvement group in North Augusta that works to improve schools and school leadership in poor performing schools and districts in South Carolina and Georgia. He will officially arrive in Bennettsville on July 14.
He has more than 30 years of experience in education, most of it in Aiken County public schools, serving most recently as associate superintendent for instruction, principal, assistant principal and a teacher.
His passion for education drove him back to school administration, as he missed the day-to-day interaction with students, the school staff and the community, according to Roberson.
In his meetings, Roberson shared his ideas with the board and the community, which included the creation of a number of magnet schools, school turnaround methods, student engagement, closing the achievement gap, parental support and involvement, data-driven decisions, school-based leadership, strategy sessions, dropout prevention, smart budgeting and fiscal management, reallocation of resources for more effective and efficient use, program evaluation and results-based analysis, according to a press release.
Dr. Roberson graduated from Paine College in Augusta in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. He earned a Master of Education degree in education administration in 1985 and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in educational leadership and policy in 1992, both from the University of South Carolina.
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Comment Title: Dr. Roberson
It is NO Doubt Aiken county school Dist. LOST BIG TIME when it lost Dr. Frank Roberson! Not only is he a wonderful educator, director and supervisor....but also a Christian! I can only Hope&Pray to see Dr. "R" back in Aiken SOON at the "BIG HOUSE" :) Then "Taco" may return to New Mexico.
Posted by: Bobbys girl On: 7/6/2009
Comment Title: What about Bobby?
My boss, peg legged bob, wanted to be the superindendent. But because he was accused of spankin some brat with his peg leg they voted him down. Hmmmm.......somethings goin on here!
Posted by: Former Peer On: 7/6/2009
Comment Title: Congrats!
Another one bites the dust but MC is lucky to pick up what we let down. Congratulations to you Dr. Roberson, you are a superb educator and an even better Christian man and friend! I think you will excel in this new post and we havent seen the last of you I am sure, I hope not atleast. Our County still loves and misses you sir!
Posted by: Sublimemom On: 7/6/2009
Comment Title: Dr. Frank Roberson
When he was with Aiken Co. He was the only administrator to come down from the "Golden Palace" and into the schools to interact with both teachers and students and see for himself how the cirriculum was working.MC is lucky to get him.We lost out...Again
Posted by: John R Altman (Bobby) On: 7/4/2009
Comment Title: What he showed me
When Dr. Roberson was the Principal in New Ellenton. He was the only person that helped one of my sons want to be in school. Frank. I will never forget you for the Impact you made On Robby. I want you do well and maybe help teachers understand that some of there lost students can be there best students If they just spend some time to understand the student. It's a loss for us to lose you in the Aiken County school system.
Posted by: Felix R.Muniz Jr., MBA On: 7/4/2009
Comment Title: Dr Roberson
This is truly Aikens loss. Congratulations to the most considerate, dedicated, wise and under-appreciated education professional that I have had the honor of knowing. This is truly Marlboro County's jackpot win !!. Best of luck Dr. Roberson and thank you for all your dedication to the Aiken community over the past decades. I hopoe to still run into you at the coffe shop in the morning!!!
Posted by: former teacher in 4 schools On: 7/4/2009
Comment Title: Perhaps
Perhaps if he would have moved the district forward while he was here, he would still be here. No system for teaching reading, math No system for assessment that teachers were forced to use across the district No alignment of curriclum implementation from school to school The guy before Dr. O'Gorman was much more instructional than Dr. Roberson. "submitted article" I guess somebody thought this would be news we wanted to hear...I am glad for him. Maybe he will get the much needed experience to return to Aiken as Superintendent. He was a people person who could have used his interpersonal skills to get a lot done.
Posted by: On: 7/4/2009
Comment Title:
If Dr Roberson was so wonderful why did he not keep his commitment to Edgefield and instead made up a story about not being able to be far from his family. Marlboro County is much farther than Edgefield. If he had done the honorable thing and stayed in Edgefield as he promised we would have David Mathis as Superintendent - one of the finest educators in the state. I do agree that Dr Everitt has not done anything for this county. She is not the leader we were led to believe she was. I blame Dr Roberson for us having her here. The board had to compromise and settle for her instead of appointing Dr Mathis to the position. Dr Roberson showed what he was really like when he left Aiken and aired the dirty laundry in the newspaper and then turned his back on Edgefield when he thought he could get a better position in Aiken. I wonder what will happen if something better comes along, will he turn his back on Marlboro County?
Posted by: On: 7/4/2009
Comment Title: I agree with the #2 post
Dr. Everitt didn't bring the change that the Aiken County Board had promised. It's sad when politics play such an important role in our hiring processs. More so, disappointing that the Aiken County board majority couldn't look beyond Dr. Roberson's skin color to realize that he was the smartest and the brightest, and was an insider to the Aiken County school system's processes and procedures. But, Aiken County's lost is Marlboro's County's gain. Best of luck, Dr. Roberson. I'm sure you're gonna wow them, and your entire family won't have to move with you for that to happen.
Posted by: Retired NA teacher On: 7/4/2009
Comment Title: Congratulations
MC is extemely lucky to be getting Dr. Roberson. Not only is he a fine administrator, but also one of the nicest men you will ever meet. I was always impressed by his ability to recall names of people he did not see that often. Good luck Frank!
Posted by: On: 7/4/2009
Comment Title:
Congratulations and best wishes for Frank. It's a shame Aiken County had not been smart enough to make him our top man. We would not have the New Mexico problems we have today.
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