ACPSD Press Release: Serving at all levels of education provides a great opportunity to know where you really belong, and for Jeff Matthews, being named principal of Cyril B. Busbee Elementary School for the 2022-23 school year is the perfect next step in his career which spans two decades.
“I am truly excited to be named the new principal at Busbee Elementary School,” Matthews said. “I spent a good portion of my career near Wagener, and I am excited for the opportunity to return to a place I am familiar with that is so well supported by the community.”
Matthews started out as an elementary school teacher in a rural school in North Carolina in 1998. Throughout his career he has served in elementary, middle, and high schools as an educator, assistant principal, and principal. His academic background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Bluefield State College in West Virginia, and a Master of Arts in School Administration from Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina.
In 2018, he was named principal of Mossy Creek Elementary School in North Augusta and was thrilled to return to his roots in elementary education. Matthews said he is glad to remain in Aiken County and looking forward to leading a rural school.
“I grew up in a small community where everyone knew everyone and that is an incredibly special experience,” Matthews stated. “Busbee has an opportunity to support the Wagener area as a community school, and community involvement is extremely important to the success of our school.”
Ready to dive right in, Matthews is excited about working with community partners to highlight the importance of educational experiences. He said he wants his students to see the progressions as they move through schools together, and he is looking forward to working with administrators at both A.L. Corbett Middle and Wagener-Salley High to best prepare Busbee students for future experiences.
One of his first focus areas will be getting to know the staff and collaborating with them to continue the work his predecessor, Principal Sonya Colvin, has done. Matthews said working with current employees will help ensure the school provides a climate that is safe, supportive, and conducive to learning.
Matthews’ duties will begin in July, following Colvin’s retirement at the end of the 2021-22 school year.