Our Principal

PSA Friends and Families,

I am delighted to serve as principal at PSA.  Parents can expect an open-door policy and an emphasis on thorough and timely communications.  My personal leadership philosophy stresses promoting a strong sense of community, creating a differentiated and personalized approach to education, providing multiple opportunities for students to discover their talents and interests, and maintaining the highest possible standards in all that we do.  Coming to PSA is the starting point for a new stage of my career and I am eager to expand my knowledge about educating gifted and talented students and about charter schools.  I pledge to work tirelessly toward fulfilling the mission and goals of the school and facilitating an uplifting, innovative, and productive environment for teaching and learning.

Sincerely,

Em Hubbard

[Read the Palmetto Scholars Academy Press Release]

My Resume of Experience

In 1981, after three years in public education at Alcorn Middle School in Columbia, SC, I accepted a teaching and coaching position at St. Andrew’s School in Savannah, GA.  During my first tenure at St. Andrew’s, I earned my graduate degree in school administration and assumed increasing levels of responsibility, including middle school director, athletic director, and business officer.  I culminated eleven years at St. Andrew’s as Assistant Headmaster for Development prior to being named Headmaster of Beaufort Academy, South Carolina, in 1992.

At Beaufort Academy, a PK-12 independent school, I led the school through initial SACS accreditation and gained membership in the National Association of Independent Schools.  Highlights of my tenure at Beaufort Academy include the development of a highly competent administrative team, recruitment of a top-quality faculty, purchasing of adjacent property to incorporate an early childhood program, expansion and improvement of the physical plant, significant increases in enrollment, doubling of annual giving, and implementation of the school’s first technology plan.

I spent one year at Creative Learning Academy, an emerging PK-8 independent school in Pensacola, FL, then I accepted an offer to return to St. Andrew’s School as Headmaster.  Although my time at Creative Learning Center was limited, I assisted the school in developing more comprehensive academic and enrichment programs and bringing greater expertise and professionalism to the administrative operations.

Returning in 1999 to lead my former school, St. Andrew’s, was a uniquely rewarding experience.  Among many achievements, I am most proud of leading the school to a position of financial stability, restoring prestige to the academic programs – including securing authorization to offer the International Baccalaureate diploma, increasing enrollment from 365 students to nearly 500, facilitating a comprehensive master planning process, assisting the board with a major capital campaign and bond issue, and helping to initiate the first phase of construction projects.

Immediately prior to coming to PSA, I served as Head of Trinity Collegiate School in South Carolina’s Pee Dee region.  Major accomplishments during my three-year tenure there included SAIS-SACS Dual Accreditation, a comprehensive strategic planning process, an innovative academic scheduling model, implementation of a committee structure and process for the board of trustees, and a major reformulation of business operational procedures.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

• Bachelor of Arts in Education (Social Studies), University of South Carolina (1974)
• Master of Education in School Administration, University of South Carolina (1990)
• 30 post-graduate credits in School Leadership, Georgia Southern University
• International Baccalaureate administrative certification
• Teacher certification — SC Department of Education

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

• 2008 – 2011 - Trinity Collegiate School (Darlington, SC) – Head of School
  (Since July, 2008) (www.tcstitans.org)
• 1999 – 2008 – St. Andrew’s School (Savannah, GA) – Headmaster
  (www.saintschool.com)
• 1998 – 1999 – Creative Learning Academy (Pensacola, FL) – Director
  (www.cla-online.org)
• 1992 – 1998 – Beaufort Academy (Beaufort, SC) – Headmaster
  (www.beaufortacademy.org)
• 1981 – 1992 – St. Andrew’s School (Savannah, GA) – teacher, coach, and multiple administrative positions
• 1978 – 1981 – Alcorn Middle School (Columbia, SC) – teacher and coach
• 1974 – 1978 – University of South Carolina – campus post office supervisor

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND SERVICE

• 2009 – 2011  Board of Trustees, Southern Association of Independent Schools
• 2005 – 2011  Accreditation visiting team chairman for the Southern Association of Independent Schools/Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• 1996 – 1998   Member of the Executive Committee, Palmetto Association of Independent Schools
• 1995 – 1997   Member of the Technology Commission of the Southern Association of Independent Schools
• 1990 – 1992   Executive Director, Savannah Parochial Athletic League
• 1988 – 1992   Member of the Mid-South Independent School Business Officers Association

COMMUNITY SERVICE

• 2009 - 2011  – Florence Breakfast Rotary Club/Interact Club sponsor
• 2005 – 2008 – Rotary Club East of Savannah, GA
• 2003 – 2008 – Member of the Board of Trustees, St. Andrew’s School
• 2002 – 2008 – Campaign Cabinet, United Way of the Coastal Empire, Savannah, GA
• 1995 – 1998 – Member of the Advisory Board of the American Cancer Society  (Beaufort, SC chapter) and host for the annual Relay for Life
• 1994 – 1997 – United Way of Beaufort County, SC
• 1992 – 1998 – Rotary Club of Beaufort, SC

PERSONAL

• Married to Brenda O. Hubbard
• Three children:  Carrie (age 22), Oliver (age 18), and Carter (age 12)
• Native of South Carolina
• Hobbies:  golf, gardening, historical literature