Hightower named new superintendent for Montgomery Co.

By PAYTON TOWNS III

Laurens County Associate School Superintendent Ronda Hightower will start commuting 35 miles for her next job to serve as the new superintendent of the Montgomery County School District.

Hightower was named the new superintendent during a called meeting last Monday. Several family members and friends were there to be part of the beginning of this journey, she said.

“Words fail to describe how truly humbled and honored I feel at the opportunity to serve the students, staff and community of Montgomery County,” Hightower said. “There are already so many great efforts and practices in place in Montgomery County, and I feel grateful to get to be a part. The ship is already rowing in the right direction, and I am happy to get to jump in the boat, grab a set of oars and help the school system go even further.” 

She likes the people and what she has seen so far from the Montgomery County School System.

“I have already witnessed high levels of unwavering commitment, integrity, and passion to serve all students in the school system,” Hightower said. “It is not just cliché to say, ‘We do what is best for the kids we serve.’Their decisions and actions show they are truly there for the kids.

“The Montgomery County School District is already making good strides in student achievement, in athletics, and in addressing the needs of the whole child,” she added. “I have several goals outlined in my First 90 Days Plan that I shared with the board.  However, the school and district improvement goals for 2024-2025 will be developed with the school and district leaders this spring as we prepare for our great year coming up next school year.” 

Hightower began her time in education as a secretary at the Laurens County Board of Education in 1996. Twenty-one of those 28 years have been in the Laurens County School District.

“Dr. Hightower has been a vital part of teaching and learning in Laurens County for many years,” said Laurens County Superintendent Clifford Garnto. “Her passion comes through in her efforts and commitment to teachers and students. Her knowledge of early literacy is unmatched. I can’t wait to see the fruits of her labor in Montgomery County. They have hired a true servant leader who is daily guided by her passion for Christ.  I know the students and staff of Montgomery County will be richly blessed by her leadership. Her leadership in Laurens County will be truly missed, and we will continue to benefit from her work here.” 

Hightower has learned a lot and grown as a leader from observing  Garnto as superintendent.

“He has taught me to expand my leadership beyond curriculum, and to focus on the state of the facilities as well as being more succinct and logistical in my approach,” Hightower said. “I could write a book on all I have learned from the staff.  One of my major responsibilities is the growth and development of our staff members.  I have found however, that I am the one that learned and grew the most.  I am beyond blessed to have learned from our staff in the Laurens County School District.”

The importance of reading is something she will be implementing in Montgomery County. She knows that students who are not reading proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school, which leads to more crime and bad health conditions.

“I was honored to be able to start the Community Literacy Task Force in Laurens County,” Hightower said. “The mission of the task force is ‘To Make Literacy More Visible and Valued in Laurens County.’ In the five years of its existence, this task force has collectively conducted hundreds of initiatives that have fulfilled and even exceeded that mission. I have already talked with the board of Montgomery County Schools about creating a task force in that community as well. There is already a literacy bus there that we plan to get back into commission and bring even more access to literacy in the community.”

Hightower called the Laurens County School District outstanding. In her time there, she said she learned from “some of the best of the best.”

“I will be forever grateful for the opportunities I have had in the Laurens County School District,” Hightower said. “I will also be forever in debt to the stellar people who poured into me and who helped me learn and grow.  The children of Laurens County are in great hands, and I look forward to hearing even more about the successes of the students and staff in the school district.”