Sharon Quinn, Deputy Superintendent

     In its broadest sense, the purpose of Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5 (OCSD5) is to promote excellence in teaching and learning inside and outside the classroom. OCSD5 views teaching and learning as a fundamental role and duty of all district personnel, regardless of their respective job description. We believe that student learning is the cornerstone of everything that adults do in a “school community that works.” It is an unwavering belief in, thorough understanding of, and tenacious commitment to building a world-class school system. It permeates every function of the OCSD5 System. It is a World-Class Culture of Teaching & Learning.
     To this end, OCSD5 establishes a culture of excellence that fosters a “non-negotiable” way of doing business complete with instructional imperatives for teachers as well as students. It provides robust demonstrations of what has become known as the 21st Century Three R’s: RIGOR – RELEVANCE –  RELATIONSHIPS.  Rigor involves helping students develop the capacity to understand content that is complex, ambiguous, provocative, and personally or emotionally challenging.  Rigorous instruction will not only foster student leadership in classrooms, but will also prepare students for college matriculation.
     Relevance, the second R, is present when students understand how taught information and skills have application to their daily life experiences.  District teachers will prepare and facilitate creative lessons that include student interests, talents, and hobbies. Students will understand why taught concepts are important and how their knowledge of these concepts will apply to their current and future world and subsequently be challenged to be responsible for their own thinking.
     The last R is relationships.  In order for rigor and relevance to be meaningful, a genuine relationship must exist between student learners and teacher facilitators.  We will build relationships of mutual respect, trust, and caring.  Teachers will use cognitive empathy to put themselves in the place of the student so that they never forget how challenging school can be.  A district culture that embraces and maintains the Three R’s of rigor, relevance, and relationships will produce high-performing students, teachers, and administrators.
     Additionally, a student-centered classroom environment directly impacts student achievement.  When teachers differentiate instruction to accommodate students’ various learning styles, learning becomes both relevant and retainable.  This is essential to create and sustain a World Class system of learning.  When students don’t learn the way we teach, we are committed to teaching the way they learn.  By embracing these professional practices, our schools will become paragons of professional learning communities.  We understand the concepts that students must learn, are prepared to intervene and remediate with best practices when students do not learn, and hasten to accelerate student learning for those who demonstrate mastery.
     The Deputy Superintendent’s Office oversees the district’s fourteen school campuses and includes all of the following departments and offices that directly contribute to student success:

Human Resources
     Employee Recruitment, Hiring, and Retention
     Professional Standards
     Teacher Certification

Instructional Services
     Office of Academics
     Research and Accountability
     Instructional Technology
     Special Education
     Federal Programs and Student Services
     Race to the Top Grant
     Parental Involvement

     Should you need assistance of any sort, you may contact Camille Proveaux at 803-533-7942.   We are committed to the academic success of all students.