COLUMBIA – During a special-called Education Oversight Committee (EOC) meeting held on Monday, November 14, Executive Director Matthew Ferguson informed committee members of his intention to accept the position of Deputy Superintendent at the SC Department of Education (SCDE) under Superintendent-Elect Ellen Weaver beginning in January 2023.
Ferguson outlined specific examples of EOC work which took place under his leadership – such as obtaining information on post-secondary outcomes of SC high school graduates for the first time, publishing a dashboard showcasing the outcomes from public-funded four-year-old classrooms across the state, and supporting a focus on student growth in school accountability.
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve as your Executive Director, and I am proud of the work of the Education Oversight Committee over the past nearly 3 years that I’ve been privileged to serve,” Ferguson stated in remarks to the committee. “It is my hope is that I have left the agency stronger than I found it, and I truly think we are well-positioned for even greater impact in the future.”
Ferguson will also be assisting in the transition of leadership at the SCDE during the month of December 2022. Dana Yow, the agency’s Deputy Director, will serve as Interim Executive Director beginning in January while a search is underway.
The SC Education Oversight Committee is an independent, non-partisan group made up of 18 educators, business persons, and elected leaders. Created in 1998, the committee is dedicated to reporting facts, measuring change, and promoting progress within South Carolina’s education system.
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