Mrs. Ruby Edwards is a lifelong educator. She is a graduate of South Carolina State University. She retired from Orangeburg Consolidated School District Five as a Professional School Counselor. Her philosophy of education can be summed up with this quote “Students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care”.

Mrs. Edwards was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2018 and she is serving her second term on the board.

She is married to Stephon Edwards and they have two sons, Stephon,II and DeQuincey. She also has a daughter-in-law, Courtni.

To contact her:
Email Mrs. Edwards

Dr. Debora B. Brunson is a life-long resident of Orangeburg and worked in the County for 45 years as a Teacher, Counselor, Principal, and District Level Administrator. She holds a BS degree in Elementary/Special Education, a Master's Degree in Advance Counseling, and an Ed.D.in Educational Administration. She is active in the community and serves as the chairperson of the County Accommodation Tax & Tourism Board. Dr. Brunson was elected to the Orangeburg County School Board in 2018 and serves as an advocate for the staff, children and their families, and the community at large.

To contact her:
Email Dr. Brunson

Idella W. Carson has served as an elected member of the Orangeburg Consolidated School District Five Board from 2013 to 2018. She was elected to the Orangeburg County School District Board in November 2018. She knows there will be challenges along the way. As a member of the Board, she would like to view the forthcoming challenges as opportunities for OCSD to grow and improve. Being an educator and an administrator for 45 years in Orangeburg County, she has dedicated her life to molding and shaping young minds to become productive citizens. It is her belief that in order to fulfill the dreams of our students for the next century, we must design innovative, educational programs to meet the needs of ALL students. Presently, Idella is an Adjunct Professor at South Carolina State University training and teaching future students to become Professional Teachers.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Claflin College and a Master of Education plus 30 hours from South Carolina State University. She attended several institutions and seminars, including the African American History Symposium at Lincoln University in Oxford, PA, Advanced Placement Government at the University of South Carolina, the Robert A. Taft Institute and Strom Thurmond Institute at Clemson University, and workshops at the University of Virginia.  One of her most rewarding recognition as an educator, she was one of two teachers from South Carolina (all-expense paid) to attend the Inauguration of President Clinton in 1993.

She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Phi Delta Kappa, La Charms Club, NAACP, Eastern Star, and Warren Chapel Baptist Church. She was married to the late John (Pookey) Carson and is the proud mother of two sons, Terrence and Torez, and two grandchildren, Taylor and Matthew.

To contact her:
Email Mrs. Carson

Mrs. Pelzer was born and raised in Holly Hill, SC and can remember being a sixth-grade student at Roberts Elementary School in Holly Hill, SC and making plans to become a teacher.

She completed her undergrad in 1975, at Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC. She also received a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley University in 2002. In 2011, she completed the requirements for a Masters in Educational Leadership at Western Governors University.

As a trustee, she stated “ I’ve accepted this task with a heart fully committed to working with the community to improve student achievement, and to help build confidence within the community. These are our children. They are the future. They need us now, but we will need them later.”  According to Malcolm X, “education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” As we work together as a team to build the best school system, she wants you to know that hardly anything matters more than our children getting the best education to be successful in a highly competitive world.

To contact her:
Email Mrs. Pelzer

Dr. Sylvia Bruce-Stephens is the fourth child of seven born to the late Jennie Brown and Earl Bruce, Sr. She was reared in Bowman, SC and brought up in a Christian home. She attended and worked diligently in St. Michael UMC (now New Covenant UMC).
 
Dr. Stephens was married to the late Arthur Stephens, Jr. They have three children: Kim, Arthur III and Quai; three grand daughters: Keyondra, Keosha and Arnaisa; and one great grandchild: Journee. Dr. Stephens is now a member of Good Shepherd Community Ministries under the leadership of Bishop Dr. Hayes T. Gainey.
 
Dr. Stephens loves tutoring children and helping students find scholarships to attend colleges and trade schools.
 
She is a graduate of Bethune Memorial High School in Bowman, SC. She has a BA in Business Organization from Voorhees College in Denmark, SC. Later, she graduated from Claflin University with an MBA in Business Administration and a Ph.D. in Business Management and Decision Sciences from Walden University, Florida.
 
She is a Certified Global Career Development Facilitor.
 
Career:
Bethune Memorial Middle School – Media Reading 1 year, Bowman, SC; Liberty Life Insurance Agent 10 years. Orangeburg, SC; Carolina Theological Bible Institute – 6 years. Director/Teacher, Bowman, SC; Roper Industry, Orangeburg, SC, 10 years Supervisor in Assembly and Manager Machine Shop; Bamberg Job Corps Center, Bamberg SC. Manager Trade Area. Retired in 2015.
 
Activities:
Chairperson: Bowman Harvest Festival, Bowman SC; Chairperson: Rosenwald Area Schools (Bowman, East Middle, Jenkins and Murray Schools); Worthy Matron Willing Workers Chapter #28 OES, Bowman, SC; 2nd Grand Associate Matron Williams Grand Chapter, Orangeburg, SC; Member of Lightsey Court #12. Heroines of Jericho, Orangeburg, SC; Member of Glory Council #1. Lady Knight Templar, Orangeburg, SC; Ancient Matron Spencer Court #78, Daughters. Orangeburg, SC; Member of Rose of Sharon Court, House of Temple, Orangeburg, SC; Member of Sisterhood, SCO, Orangeburg, SC
 
Motto: “If I can help somebody along the way, then my living would have not been in vain”.

Email Dr. Sylvia Stephens

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Born in Springfield, South Carolina, Mrs. Peggy James-Tyler is the fifth of seven children of the late Mr. and Mrs. Calvin (Sadie Robinson) James. She is a graduate of Norfield 12-year High School, in Norway, now Hunter-Kinard-Tyler High. Mrs. Tyler received a Bachelor of Science degree in Health, Physical Education and Science from Benedict College, as well as her Master’s in Secondary Guidance and Counseling from South Carolina State College (now South Carolina State University). She extended her studies at USC Salk, USC Aiken, and USC Columbia, and earned certifications as an Elementary and Secondary Principal, and Secondary Administration. 

Mrs. Tyler has served this community in education for 41 years as an educator, and 36 as a board member. She has worked as a classroom teacher, Guidance Counselor, Assistant Principal, Interim Principal, Principal, Director of Alternative Schools, and Director of Adult Education. Mrs. Tyler served as Chairperson of Orangeburg's School District until January of 2021, seeing the District's new board through consolidation. School Board’s Chairperson. She has reached the highest level, Level Six, in the South Carolina School Board Association (SCSBA) Boardmanship Institute, and was proudly the first African American and the first female to chair the Board of Trustees for Orangeburg County School District One (previously encompassing Norway, Springfield, and Neeses), as well as Orangeburg Consolidated School District Four. She is a past president of Bamberg County Retired Educators, and has also served on the South Carolina School Board for Region Seven and the South Carolina School Board Insurance Trust.

She was married to the late Mr. Norris Tyler, and they have two children, Terri and Christopher, five grandchildren, and one great grandchild. She is a member of New Beginning United Methodist Church, where she is the President of the Gospel Choir and President of the United Methodist Women. At church, she is a Lay Leader, Certified Lay Speaker, and Certified Lay Instructor. She is a member of the Nu Tau Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and has served as the chapter’s president.

Mrs. Tyler’s hobbies include singing, sports (especially basketball), and talking on the telephone. She is a cancer survivor and a people person. She relies fully on God and is always an advocate for all children and adults when it comes to what is right. Her motto is “If I could help somebody as I travel alone, then my living shall not be in vain.”

Email Mrs. Tyler

Mary Berry Ulmer, a native of Bowman, SC has been involved in education for 35 plus years as a classroom teacher. It is her belief that ALL children can learn.

Mrs. Ulmer is a Bowman High School graduate. She earned a BA degree in English Education from Claflin University, M. Education in Elementary Education/Middle School ELA from SC State University with further studies at Charleston Southern University, the College of Charleston (Gifted and Talented endorsement), Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College.

She retired from Orangeburg Consolidated School District 3 (Lake Marion High School) as a classroom teacher. She was also employed as a classroom teacher, cheerleader coach and advisor of clubs/organizations in Jasper County Schools, Beaufort County Adult Education program and Hilton Head High School. She has received many awards and recognition over the years, to include WLTX Teacher of the Week, Who’s Who Among American High School Teachers and OCSD5 Board Member of the Year in 2016.

Mrs. Ulmer was elected to serve the Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5 Board of Trustees in November 2007. She chaired Orangeburg Five’s board from 2011 until 2019, when she was elected to serve on the board of our newly-consolidated district, where she represents District 7.

Mrs. Ulmer has obtained Level 6 of Boardmanship Institute training. She was elected to the South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA) Board of Directors for the unexpired term December 2014-2015 and since elected to four-year terms 2015-2019; 2019-2023 for Region 7 (Orangeburg, Calhoun and Sumter) school districts. She has served the following committees: Awards, Nominating, Audit, Policy and Constitution and Training and Convention. She has served as SCSBA Group leader during the National School Board Association advocacy meeting in Washington, DC four consecutive years. She was appointed to the South Carolina School Boards Insurance Trust (SCSBIT) Board of Directors December 2020.

She is a member and volunteers her services with the South Carolina School Boards Black Caucus, Orangeburg Democratic Party, Orangeburg Concern Citizens District 66, Regional Economic and Educational Community Development Corporation, Orangeburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and an active member of Andrew Chapel Baptist Church, Orangeburg, SC.

Mrs. Ulmer and her husband, Patro H. Ulmer, a retired educator, are the proud parents of Latavish, Patro S. and T. Dionne Ulmer. They are NaNa and PopPop to their precious grandchildren.

To contact her:
Email Mrs. Ulmer

Rev. Dr. R.L. Brown is a 1984 graduate of Holly Hill-Roberts High and a 1998 graduate of South Carolina State University, where he graduated with a BS in Criminal Justice with honors.  He was a three-time Presidential Scholar while at SCSU.  He maintained his status on the Dean's List as well as being named to the National Dean's List.  Rev. Brown was also named an All-American Collegiate Scholar and featured in Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges. He is a member of a number of Honor Societies and is also a proud member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Marines, in which he served eight years.
  
Dr. Brown has studied at the C.M. Davis Extension Seminary as well as Southern Methodist Bible College, Columbia International University Bible Seminary and is a 2005 graduate of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary where he graduated with his MART. He completed his CPE training at Palmetto Health in 2007 and earned his National Board Certified Chaplain Credentials in 2008. He graduated with his DMIN from ATS Seminary in 2009.
  
Rev. Dr. Brown is serving his second term on the school board as he was one of the original 9 who were first elected in 2018.  He knows firsthand how important a good quality education is to a person’s life.  He is honored to be a servant of the students, teachers and tax payers of Orangeburg County.

Email Mr. Brown