By Carol Stigger

Sylvia Wright, 2026 candidate for South Carolina Superintendent of Education, spoke to 80 guests at the monthly VOICE luncheon on Monday, November 17, in North Myrtle Beach.

Ms. Wright’s mission is to restore the constitutional and deeply patriotic promise of a free, high-quality education in South Carolina. She has twenty years experience in the education field, beginning as a classroom teacher and moving into academic leadership positions. She was an adjunct professor of history at Charleston Southern University.

While teaching, she earned her masters degree in Education, Divergent Learning and Master of Arts in History. She is a 2026 University of South Carolina candidate for Doctor of Education, Educational Systems Improvement.

She informed the audience, “We cannot expect South Carolina students to succeed without first knowing their foundational needs are met. To set our children up for success, we must meet each student where they are and ensure their needs for food, safety, shelter and a sense of belonging are met.”

Her other priorities include recruitment and retention of high-quality teachers, world class education for global competition, district-level control and collaboration and transparency and accountability to ensure taxpayer money is allocated effectively.

The state’s report card demands a strong, knowledgeable leader. In 2023, 45 percent of the state’s fifth graders did not meet grade level standards in English Language Arts, a seven percent drop over the previous year. Only 22 percent of South Carolina’s eighth grade students performed at or above the National Assessment of Educational Progress proficient level in eighth grade math.

VOICE is a local grassroots organization that empowers women of all ages and all walks of life through support, information and advocacy to strengthen democracy in our communities.

To learn more about VOICE, visit their website: www.voicenmb.org.