At its regular meeting on February 11th, the Florence One Board of Trustees named Dr. Allie E. Brooks, Jr., Interim Superintendent of Florence School District One. He'll replace Larry Jackson who's retiring.
Mr. Porter Stewart, Chairman of the Board of Trustees said, "I am pleased to have a person of the caliber of Dr. Allie E. Brooks to serve as Interim Superintendent of Florence School District One. He brings to the table welcomed knowledge of our community, professional experiences, and a love for students which will be an inspiration to us all."
Brooks retired in June of 2005 after having served in Florence area public schools for more than 35 years. He worked as principal of Wilson High School from 1974 to 2005. He served as assistant principal at West Florence High School from 1971 to 1974. He began his career as a mathematics teacher at Moore Middle School in 1970.
In response to the appointment as Interim Superintendent, Dr. Brooks said, "I want to thank God for the opportunity to assist in the positive initiatives of Superintendent Larry Jackson, the Board of Trustees, and the Administrative Staff. My prayer is that my steps have the spirit of discernment in my consultation with the Board of Trustees, Superintendent Jackson, the Administrative Staff, Teachers, Support Staff, and Community Members in making wise decisions on behalf of the students we serve."
A native of the Florence area, Brooks earned a Bachelor's Degree in 1968 from S.C. State University and a Master's Degree in education administration from the University of South Carolina in 1974. He completed the Institute on the Principal and School Improvement in 1987 at Harvard University and did further graduate work at USC until his retirement. He was awarded an Honorary Degree from Francis Marion University during fall commencement ceremonies in December of 2006. Recently, he served as a College Professor for Practicum Students of Cambridge College at the Augusta, Georgia, Center.
Brooks has been active in numerous civic and professional organizations throughout his career. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Florence Boys and Girls Club, a past member of the Florence City-County Bi-Centennial Committee, and is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, West Florence Rotary Club and United Way of Florence. Currently, he serves as a member of BB&T's Advisory Board, The School Foundation Board of Directors, Francis Marion University Board of Directors, the Editorial Advisory Board for the News Journal, and Member of the Board of Directors for the House of Hope Ministries.
He has served as president of the S.C. Association of Secondary School Principals (1986-87), the 4-A Principals Conference (1995-96) and the S.C. High School League (1999-2000).
Brooks was named Outstanding Principal of the Year in 1986-87 by the S.C. Association of Secondary School Principals (SCASSP) and again in 2000 by the SCASSP, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Brooks was the 1987 recipient of the Florence Civitans' Citizen of the Year award and was named Citizen of the Year in 1989 by the Chi Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and in 1995 was selected Educator of the Year by Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. He was honored as the 2005 Distinguished Graduate by The School Foundation of Florence School District One. In addition, he has been named 2009 Champion for Youth by the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of the Pee Dee, and most recently a recipient of the 2009 South Carolina State Board of Education Volunteer Award.
A veteran of the U.S. Army, Brooks served in Korea and Oklahoma. He is married to the former Barbara Faye Eaddy, and they have three children: Allie Eugene, III, Deanna Fredrica, and Thelma Susann Eaddy. They also have a daughter-in-law, Janell Hargrove Brooks, and one granddaughter, Hailey Elizabeth.
He is a member of Savannah Grove Baptist Church.
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