Shawn Foster, Ed.D, is the superintendent of Orangeburg County School District. He came to Orangeburg with more than two decades of experience in school and district transformation. He served in varied educational leadership roles, beginning first as a school counselor at an alternative school-Whitlock Flexible Learning Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He served as an assistant principal at Dorman High School, then was named principal at Fairforest Middle School. During his second year there, the school’s performance rating improved from below average to average. In 2009, he transitioned to Whitlock Jr. High School and became principal of a school that, under his leadership, became recognized as a state “Turn Around School.” In just one year, the school’s academic performance improved in ALL grade levels, and student discipline referrals were reduced by 77%.

Prior to his service in Orangeburg, Dr. Foster was the Deputy Superintendent/Chief Officer of Operations and Student Services in Aiken County Public Schools, a role he held from 2015 until accepting the position to serve as our Superintendent in June of 2020. In his previous role, he oversaw Aiken’s departments of Facilities and Maintenance, Educational Technology, Student Services, Health Services, Transportation, Homebound, Counseling Services and Alternative Services, in addition to managing the oversite of the district’s bond referendums.

Facing the difficulties of the pandemic and embarking on a path forward, Dr. Foster has led a vast effort to keep students and staff safe while providing the highest levels of instruction for students. Despite the pandemic, Orangeburg County students have continued to excel in learning while launching new initiatives and programs that will advance the educational opportunities for our community’s students.  

Dr. Foster has a degree in Social Work from Livingstone College, an opportunity made possible by a full-athletic scholarship for football. He earned a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling from Webster University and subsequently enrolled at Columbia College, where he pursued a Master of Education Degree. In succeeding years of study, he earned a Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from South Carolina State University right here in Orangeburg.

In 2016, he was named an Aiken Standard Young Professional to Follow, and is the proud recipient of the Inez M. Tenenbaum Leadership Award from the School Leadership Executive Institute for his belief in a team-first approach to leadership and strategic planning.