Garrison to retire at the end of the school year.
Courtesy photo
EASLEY — The School District of Pickens County (SDPC) recently announced the retirement of Angie Garrison, Ph.D., Principal of West End Elementary School, effective at the end of the 2023–24 school year. Garrison has been Principal at West End Elementary since January 2007, serving the school and community with dedication and a deep commitment to excellence, SDPC officials said.
Garrison’s career in education spans over 40 years. She began her journey as a classroom teacher at Sirrine Elementary School in 1984 before coming to the School District of Pickens County two years later as the Guidance Counselor at Liberty Middle School, where she would remain until 2003. Her dedication to education led her to roles of increasing responsibility as she shifted to West End Elementary as the Assistant Principal, before taking on the role of Principal in 2007.
Under Garrison’s leadership, SDPC officials said West End Elementary has achieved remarkable success, including being named a National Title I Distinguished School in 2020; scoring 100% on the 2013 State School Report Card; and receiving multiple Palmetto Gold and High Achieving Title I Schools Awards. Her focus on student-centered education and her commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive school culture have been the hallmarks of her tenure. In addition to her leadership at West End, she has served as a mentor to experienced and newly hired principals throughout Pickens County.
For those who have worked with Garrison, they have witnessed her belief that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed. She has worked tirelessly to create an environment that supports this vision. When asked to reflect on her career and impact on students, Garrison shared, “I have always believed that an educator’s moral imperative is to work to do the right thing for each child. I am thankful to have served with dedicated West End staff members as we learned and grew alongside our students and their families. It has been an honor and a blessing to serve each one.”
Her dedication to the students, staff and community of West End Elementary is evident in the lasting impact she has made on the school., they said.
“The positive influence Dr. Garrison has had on our community and the field of education is immeasurable,” said Superintendent Danny Merck. “Her unwavering dedication to excellence and her commitment to the growth of every student have left a lasting mark on West End Elementary and the School District of Pickens County. We are deeply grateful for her service and wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement.”
As Garrison prepares to embark on the next chapter of her life, she leaves behind a legacy of educational excellence and a school community that is stronger because of her leadership.
The School District of Pickens County will soon begin the search for a new principal who will continue the success of West End Elementary.