After visiting all seven area high schools earlier this week, Dr. Shawn Foster, the Aiken County Public School District's new deputy superintendent, said his initial impression is the same as when he interviewed for the position.
"Great people. Great district. Great community," said Foster at a meeting of the Aiken County School Board on Tuesday. Foster will begin his duties full time July 2.
Foster said he plans to visit all of the schools in the county before school is out for the summer but added getting to every one in the next few weeks could be a challenge.
"I hope to be able to visit most of them," he said.
Visiting the schools, getting to know the district's employees and finding his role in the district's administration are Foster's primary goals.
"My first goal is to get out into the schools and the community and to meet people and develop relationships with individuals," Foster said. "You don't come in with a plan because people are doing a lot of great things here.
"I want to see where I can be an asset, not to come in and change anything but just to help out where I can and earn trust from everyone in this district."
Foster said he's excited about his new position and the opportunity to work for the District.
"I continue to hear great things about the people here, and that's what makes a school district: The community and the people," Foster said. "It's not about test scores and things like that. All of that is important, but it's the people that you work with and the kids that we have here that make Aiken's school district the quality district that it is."
Foster is director of Student and Administrative Services for Spartanburg School District 7. He has state certification in the areas of superintendent, secondary supervisor and guidance and counseling. He holds masters' degrees in the arts and education and a doctorate in education. He has experience as a director, principal and guidance counselor.
Foster will replace District Deputy Superintendent David Caver, who will retire in late June.
An Aiken native, Larry Wood is a general assignment reporter. He started at the Aiken Standard in September 2014.