November 16, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
South Carolina Future Minds Announces New Board Members
Leaders from Business & Education Join Statewide Effort to Advance Public Education
Charleston, SC—South Carolina Future Minds, a statewide nonprofit advancing public education programs and policies, announces the appointment of three new board members, two new ex-officio board members, as well as a new slate of officers.
The Board is pleased to announce that David Cote, Vice President Human Resources, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, has been named Board Chair; Patrick White, Vice President, Supply Chain, Comporium, Vice Chair; and Audrey Lane, Founder, Lane Equity Enterprises, Secretary.
Joining the Board of Directors are:
Harrison Goodwin, Ex-Officio, 2019 South Carolina Superintendent of the Year, Chesterfield County School District
Christopher Jaros, Partner, K&L Gates, Charleston
Spann Laffitte, Vice President of Sales and Account Management, Delta Dental, Columbia
Ken Reynolds, Director of Corporate and Community Affairs, Bojangles', Charlotte
Jeff Maxey, Ex-Officio, 2019 South Carolina Teacher of the Year, Anderson School District Three
“I am both proud and humbled to lead SC Future Minds' distinguished Board of Directors as we galvanize community leaders, the business community, and educators towards the critical task of aligning public education and economic development in our state,” said Board Chair David Cote. “The addition of these five outstanding board members will help us further advance policies and programs for the benefit of our students, teachers, and communities.”
Dr. Harrison Goodwin is the 2019 South Carolina Superintendent of the Year. He has served as Superintendent of Chesterfield County Schools since 2012, during which time the district received their first ever “Excellent” on the South Carolina State Report Card. Dr. Goodwin has been named “Honor Administrator of the Year” by the South Carolina Music Educators Association, “Superintendent of the Year,” by the South Carolina Athletic Administrator Association and “Outstanding Superintendent” by the Career and Technology Administrators Association. Dr. Goodwin holds both a Bachelors and Masters degree from Clemson University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Christopher Jaros is a partner at the Charleston, SC office of K&L Gates LLP, an international law firm with more than 40 offices worldwide, where his legal practice focuses on environmental law and litigation. Prior to joining K&L Gates, Mr. Jaros lived in Washington, DC and practiced law at Arnold & Porter LLP. Chris is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and Brown University.
Spann Laffitte has more than 16 years of experience in product strategy, network development, and sales leadership within the insurance industry, serving as Vice President of Sales and Account Management with Delta Dental of South Carolina since 2012. Mr. Laffitte holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of South Carolina. Community and professional highlights include serving on the boards of the Palmetto State Bank and Salute from the Shore. He is a graduate of Leadership Columbia, was selected as "20 under 40" by The State newspaper in Columbia and is a Liberty Fellow.
Jeff Maxey, the 2019 South Carolina Teacher of the Year, is a Special Education Resource Teacher at Starr Elementary School in Anderson District Three. Mr. Maxey became a teacher after a twelve year career in church ministry; he also lived and worked in North Africa for eight years, during which time he provided teacher training in small villages and desert communities. He is currently serving as an ambassador for the teaching profession through a one-year residency at the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement (CERRA). A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Mr. Maxey holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Kentucky University and a Master's degree in Special Education – Learning and Behavior Disorders from Spalding University.
Ken Reynolds is the Director of Corporate and Community Affairs with Bojangles’ Restaurants, Inc. His primary role with the iconic southern restaurant brand is to evaluate, negotiate and recommend partnerships that are in line with the company’s mission and core values. A former educator, Mr. Reynolds has been employed with Bojangles’ for 24 years. He is a graduate of Morehead State University where he earned a Masters in Adult and Higher Education and a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in education. At Park Road Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC, Mr. Reynolds serves as chairperson of special worship services committee and is currently vice-chair of the deaconate.
South Carolina Future Minds Board of Directors consists of leaders from business and education fields who are committed to improving public education as a driver of social and economic progress. The organization is best known for programs that support South Carolina’s teachers and students, including the state Teacher of the Year gala and My First Library. In 2018, it launched Education for the Economy, the state’s first business-led advocacy initiative for public education. For a full list of South Carolina Future Minds Board Members click here.
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About South Carolina Future Minds
SC Future Minds champions world class student achievement by investing in teachers and school readiness, encouraging collaboration among public education stakeholders, and connecting private financial support to public schools. As a statewide 501(c)3 nonprofit that works with many of South Carolina’s top businesses and every school district in the state, SC Future Minds is uniquely positioned to advance programs, research, and policy that support excellence and equity in public education. For more information on South Carolina Future Minds, visit www.scfutureminds.org, follow @scfutureminds, join the SC Future Minds Facebook page, or email info@scfutureminds.org.
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