Members of the Lemira Elementary SIC receiving the 2025 Riley Award. On right, Ted Riley, son of Dick and Tunky Riley - for whom the award is named, and Quantina Haggwood, Executive Director, SC-SIC.

2025 Riley Award Honorable Mentions

Blue Ridge High SIC (Greenville County Schools)

Edith L Frierson Elementary SIC (Charleston County School District)

Sumter High SIC (Sumter County School District)

The School Improvement Council (SIC) of Lemira Elementary School in Sumter School District has been named the recipient of the 2025 Dick and Tunky Riley Award for School Improvement Council Excellence.

The award was presented Saturday, April 5, during the SC-SIC Annual Conference at the awards program and luncheon at the Cooperative Conference Center in Columbia.

The annual Riley Award for SIC Excellence was created in 2002 to highlight the significant contributions made to public education by the 12,000 School Improvement Council members who volunteer in every public school in the state. The award is named in honor of the former SC Governor and U.S. Secretary of Education and his late wife, recognizing the couple’s longstanding commitment to quality public education.

Lemira Elementary SIC’s efforts in the 2023-2024 school year demonstrated a commitment to motivating, inspiring, and educating students to be college-and-career-ready. They focused on closing learning gaps through a Multi-Tiered Support System that addressed academic, social, and emotional needs.

Through targeted interventions, such as tutoring, enrichment programs, and small group instruction, they have seen significant progress in student achievement. Social-emotional support, mentoring programs, and positive behavior initiatives have further strengthened student confidence and engagement. Finally, their Attendance H.E.R.O. initiative has encouraged consistent attendance, contributing to overall academic success and improved school culture.