🎵 The Art and Science of Music: An Opportunity for Grades 6–12
Does your student enjoy singing or playing an instrument? Are they interested in songwriting, graphic design, sound and lighting, or working behind the scenes at live events?
The Art and Science of Music offers School District of Pickens County students in grades 6–12 the opportunity to work alongside musicians and entertainment professionals to create original music and help produce a live show!
Presented by the South Carolina Entertainment and Music Hall of Fame, this three-day experience will take place November 19–21, 2026, at Easley High School, concluding with a live performance alongside Hall of Fame musicians.
Students will work in small teams, contributing through music, design, promotion, stage production, and other roles. No audition is required, and students do not have to sing or play an instrument to participate.
Anticipated Schedule:
Thursday, November 19: Evening workshop beginning at approximately 5:00 PM.
Friday, November 20: Full-day workshop, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Participating students will be excused from school to attend.
Saturday, November 21: Final production preparations and a live performance at 7:00 PM. Student arrival time and additional details will be shared with participating families.
Participation Information:
Cost: $35 per student
Students must attend all three days.
Families must provide transportation to and from Easley High School.
Interested in participating?
Complete the Student Workshop Interest Form to receive registration information and additional details.
Please note: Submitting the interest form does not complete registration.
Thank you to everyone who shared their perspectives through the Community Input Survey as the SDPC Board of Trustees searches for the district's next superintendent.
The feedback received will help inform the Board as it considers the leadership qualities, experience, and priorities that are important for SDPC's next leader.
The survey results are now available for the community to review.
🔗 View the results and learn more about the superintendent search: https://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/article/3112602
Thank you for being part of this important process and for your continued support of SDPC.
Gateway to Innovation (G2i) is excited to welcome Carrie Gregory as the school nurse who will care for students when the facility opens in January 2027.
A Pickens County native and graduate of Liberty High School, Carrie earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Carolina Upstate and a master's degree in Nursing Leadership and Management from Western Governors University.
Carrie brings extensive nursing experience in cardiology, pediatrics, internal medicine, and case management. She has served the School District of Pickens County (SDPC) for more than 20 years, working as both a school nurse and the district's Director of Health Services.
Outside of work, Carrie enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren, traveling, helping her husband in their garden, and attending church.
Carrie looks forward to caring for G2i students, providing encouragement and support, and making a positive difference in their lives. She is especially excited about helping students feel safe, supported, and cared for as they explore new opportunities and prepare for their futures.
We are excited to have Carrie as part of the G2i team and look forward to the care and experience she brings to our students and staff!
A vision for the future is becoming a reality!
On October 26, 2026, the SDPC Board of Trustees gathered at the Gateway to Innovation construction site for a special dedication recognizing their visionary leadership and commitment to this exciting new chapter in Career and Technical Education.
A plaque installed in the building’s lobby honors the Board for the vision and forward-thinking work that have helped bring Gateway to Innovation to life.
This project represents SDPC’s commitment to Visionary, Future-Focused Innovation and creating meaningful opportunities for students to explore career pathways, discover new interests, and develop skills for future success.
Gateway to Innovation is scheduled to open in January 2027, welcoming school groups during a soft opening in the second semester. A grand opening celebration will follow, giving the community an opportunity to see the new facility firsthand. Be on the lookout for more details!
We’re grateful for the leadership that continues to move our district forward and excited for what Gateway to Innovation will mean for students and our community.
Recently, we had the pleasure of welcoming middle school counselors from across the School District of Pickens County to Gateway to Innovation!
Our school counselors play a vital role in helping students discover their interests, explore career opportunities, and make informed decisions about their futures. We appreciate the opportunity to share how G2i will support their work and create new opportunities for students across Pickens County.
We look forward to building a strong, ongoing partnership with our school counselors as we work together to connect students with meaningful experiences and opportunities that will help shape their futures.
Mark your calendars, SDPC! There will be no school for students Friday, October 9, through Tuesday, October 13. We hope our students and families enjoy the extended break!
📅 View the SDPC District Calendar for additional important dates throughout the school year.
Progress continues across Gateway to Innovation! This week, insulation went up on the front wall, interior doors and cabinets were installed, the playground fence is going up, and temporary air was turned on inside the building.
Every week brings us another step closer to opening our doors in January!
Following 13 years of leadership, Superintendent Dr. Danny Merck will conclude his service at the end of the 2026–2027 school year. With advance planning, the Board of Trustees is beginning the search process now to support a thoughtful and seamless transition.
The search will be guided by our Innovate ’28 Strategic Plan and shaped by input from the people who know and care about SDPC — our students, employees, families, and Pickens County community.
🗣️ Your voice matters.
The Board of Trustees, in partnership with the South Carolina School Boards Association, is gathering community input to help identify the qualities, experience, and leadership priorities that should guide the search for SDPC’s next superintendent.
The first opportunity to share your input:
📅 Tuesday, September 29, 2026
📍 Liberty High School (124 Red Devil Drive, Liberty, SC 29657)
⏰ 6:00 PM
Additional opportunities for community input will be announced as the search progresses.
Learn more about the superintendent search and how you can participate: https://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/article/3112602
#SDPC #EngagingToday #EmpoweringTomorrow
Great projects are built through strong partnerships, and we couldn’t have asked for a better team to help bring G2i to life.
Alex Lay, G2i’s project architect with Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC), Tim Franklin, Superintendent, and Lane Towery, Assistant Superintendent, with Triangle Construction, have worked closely together throughout this project to turn the vision for Gateway to Innovation into a reality.
Their teamwork, communication, attention to detail, and commitment to this project are evident throughout G2i. We are incredibly grateful for Alex, Tim, and Lane and the role each of them has played in creating a facility that will impact the students of Pickens County for generations to come.
We are excited to welcome Corporal Austin Burton as the newest member of the Gateway to Innovation team!
Austin began his law enforcement career as a road patrol officer in 2021 before joining the Pickens Police Department, where he has served for the past three years. He served as a corporal on road patrol before transitioning to the role of School Resource Officer in 2025. Austin is also an active member of the department’s Special Response Team and serves as a department training officer.
This fall, Austin will serve as a School Resource Officer at Pickens Middle School before officially joining the G2i team when we open to students in January 2027. We are grateful that he will already be serving students and building relationships within the Pickens community as he prepares for his new role at G2i.
G2i is especially meaningful to Austin because he completed the welding program at the B.J. Skelton Career Center. He understands firsthand the value of hands-on career and technical education and believes G2i will help prepare Pickens County students for future success in the workforce.
Austin and his wife will celebrate eight years of marriage this October. They have four daughters, and much of his time outside of work is spent watching them play and train for volleyball.
Corporal Burton looks forward to keeping the G2i campus safe, building relationships with students, and serving as a mentor along the way.
Please join us in welcoming Corporal Austin Burton to G2i!
These flags will be proudly flown at G2i as symbols of our pride in both our country and our state. They will also serve as a meaningful reminder of the support our students receive from leaders across South Carolina.
Thank you, Representative Bowers, for taking the time to visit, learn more about G2i's vision, and present us with these special gifts. We are grateful for your support of Gateway to Innovation and the students of Pickens County!
For 75 years, the School District of Pickens County has been more than a collection of schools - it has been a place where students discover their passions, build lasting relationships, and create memories that shape their futures.
Throughout this anniversary year, we’ve celebrated the people, places, and programs that have made SDPC special by sharing stories from across our schools and community.
Now, those stories come together in one place.
📖 "75 Years of Impact: Past. Present. Potential." is a commemorative magazine that celebrates the legacy we’ve built and the Experience SDPC that continues to make our district unique.
Inside, you’ll find the moments, milestones, and voices that reflect who we are - and the commitment that continues to guide us as we engage students today and empower them for tomorrow.
👉 Explore the magazine: https://www.flipsnack.com/BFD76799E8C/75-years-of-impact-sdpc-2026
#75YearsOfImpact #ExperienceSDPC #EngagingToday #EmpoweringTomorrow
If your student will be riding the bus to or from school, please take a moment to complete the 📝 SDPC Transportation Form to ensure they are scheduled for 🚌 pickup and drop-off before August 1.
🔗 Find the form linked here: https://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/page/transportation
If your student will be riding the bus to or from school, please take a moment to complete the 📝 SDPC Transportation Form to ensure they are scheduled for 🚌 pickup and drop-off before August 4th!
🔗 Find the form linked here: https://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/page/transportation
We’ve got great news for SDPC families!
Thanks to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), all students will receive FREE breakfast and lunch every day during the 2026-2027 school year - no forms, no fees, no hassle! 🙌
✅ No need to submit a meal application
✅ Every student is automatically eligible
✅ Healthy meals = focused minds + strong bodies
This program ensures that every child has access to nutritious meals to fuel learning and success. It’s one more way we’re supporting our students - together!
Questions? Visit www.sdpcnutrition.com or contact Jenaffer Stevenson, Director of Student Nutrition Services:
📧 jenafferstevenson@pickens.k12.sc.us | 📞 864-397-1166
#SDPCNutrition #EngagingToday #EmpoweringTomorrow
📚 The first day of school for SDPC students is Tuesday, August 4! We can't wait to welcome everyone back for an amazing year of learning.
Please note: Students in our 4K and 5K programs have a staggered start to help ensure a successful transition to school.
🍎 4K Families: Your child's school will contact you to schedule:
• An assessment appointment on August 4 or 5
• A half-day orientation on August 6 or 7
• Full-day classes begin Monday, August 10
🍎 5K Families: Your child's school will contact you to schedule:
• An assessment appointment on August 4, 5, or 6
• Full-day classes begin Friday, August 7
We look forward to seeing our students soon! 💙
Give your child a great start with the SDPC Academy for Early Learners — a FREE 4K program designed to inspire curiosity, build confidence, and prepare students for kindergarten and beyond.
Through hands-on learning in immersive environments, students explore, create, problem-solve, and grow while developing important early literacy, social, and emotional skills.
🚌 FREE transportation is available to all Pre-K students!
Don’t miss this opportunity to give your child an engaging learning experience that sets the stage for future success!
🔗 Register for 4K today: https://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/page/four-year-old-kindergarten
📩 Questions? Contact the Academy for Early Learners at aelreg@pickens.k12.sc.us or 864-397-1000.
A sponsorship at Gateway to Innovation is about much more than a financial contribution.
One of the most valuable ways to support G2i is simply by sharing your time, talents, and real-world experience with our students. Whether you’re speaking to a class, mentoring students, serving on an advisory committee, or partnering on a project, you can help inspire the next generation of our workforce.
Businesses, industries, churches, civic organizations, and individuals all have something valuable to offer. There are also opportunities to support G2i through equipment, program sponsorships, and other investments that will impact thousands of students each year. Every partnership—large or small—helps prepare students for successful futures while strengthening the workforce and economy of Pickens County.
If you’d like to learn more about partnering with Gateway to Innovation, send us an email to G2i Director Tim Johnson at timjohnson@pickens.k12.sc.us. We’d love to talk with you about how you can help shape the future of Pickens County.
We were honored to welcome local pastors from across Pickens County to G2i today.
We appreciate their support, encouragement, and interest in the vision of creating new opportunities for students across Pickens County.
The future is being built through strong community partnerships!
Big changes are happening at the G2i site this week!
With paint going on the building, Gateway to Innovation is starting to look more and more like the place where students will soon explore, create, problem-solve, and dream about their futures.
It is exciting to see the vision becoming reality, one step at a time!
