PICKENS COUNTY — Betty Garrison announced last month her plans to enter the race for District 5 seat of the board of trustees for School District of Pickens County and when filing opened, she followed through making it official.
Garrison retired as Principal Easley High School and spent her professional career in education as a lifelong resident of Easley beginning as a home economics teacher at EHS in 1976. Since then, her education experience includes varying classroom and administrative roles including time as a guidance counselor, curriculum assistant, and assistant principal before retiring.
Other experience includes work as a GED instructor at SDPC’s Adult Learning Center.
According to Garrison, the district is comprised of quality people from students to faculty but she feels the image of the district doesn’t reflect as much.
“The School District of Pickens County has quality facilities, outstanding teachers and administrators, and high‐achieving students,” Garrison said. “But there is work to be done to improve the image of the School District of Pickens County so that its reputation is consistent with our high‐caliber educators and offerings.”
Garrison sees the people as the most important reason for her run for District 5.
“I have sought the prayers, wisdom, and advice of family and friends regarding the decision to run for the District 5 seat on the board of trustees for the School District of Pickens County,” Garrison said. “There are so many reasons to serve our school district, approximately 18,560 – the 16,560 students and 2,000 employees.”
The District 5 seat s currently held by Judy Edwards who has chosen not to run for re-election. Garrison shared her praise for Edwards.
“A retired educator and tireless public servant, Mrs. Edwards has served our community with integrity, and I am grateful for the work she has done,” she said. “I share that experience of serving as an educator to our young people, and I believe it has prepared me to contribute and lead at the school board level.”
