About Lisa
With a Bachelor of Arts in English from the College of Charleston and a
Master of Science in Forest Resource Management from Clemson University, she
began teaching at Ridge View High School in 2001. During her educational career,
she has taught English, Leadership, been a Director of Student Activities, and an
Instructional Coach in 4 schools and 3 school districts. She is in her 25th year of
education as the Student Activities Director at Blythewood High School in Richland
2. She is also an adjunct professor at the College of Charleston in their Education
department.
In 2018, Lisa received a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from
Columbia College. Through this program, she recognized the importance of using
her voice to affect change. Lisa created the SC for Ed Facebook closed group as a
community for SC educators to become a collective voice. SC for Ed evolved into a
grassroots movement to implement effective change in public education in South
Carolina. The mission of SC for Ed was to place an extraordinary teacher in every
classroom. In 2022, Lisa decided to elevate her voice by running for State
Superintendent of Education in SC. While not successful, she continues to advocate
for the profession while still working at Blythewood. Lisa hopes that others will
realize the power of their voice and fight for this wonderful profession. More
importantly, she hopes those who have the power to affect change will listen to
teachers and choose what is best for children in SC.
Lisa Ellis for SC stands for:
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Classroom Credibility: Real leadership from someone who continues to teach and understands students’ needs.
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Teacher Retention & Pay: Tackling the teacher shortage by ensuring competitive pay and professional respect.
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Safe & Supportive Schools: Advocating for solutions to reduce gun violence, support student well-being, and strengthen school safety.
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Strong Public Schools for All: Standing against privatization and voucher efforts from out-of-state moneyed interests who have no grounding in the classroom and protecting every child’s right to a high-quality education regardless of zip code.
A Word from the Candidate
“In 2026, this race is about a simple choice: Do we want education driven by extreme agendas, or do we want leadership grounded in the classroom, fighting for every child’s future?” Ellis said.
“I believe South Carolina families will choose students, teachers, and strong public schools.”
-Ellis for SC Press Release, 2025
Together, we can make a South Carolina meant for
ALL students.
