From literacy to leadership: Columbia elementary school principal finds academic home at SC State

Claudia Brooks-McCallum was among 13 who received Doctor of Educational Leadership degrees on Thursday.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Claudia Brooks-McCallum said she found a welcoming and fruitful learning environment when she enrolled in South Carolina State University’s Doctor of Educational Leadership program.

She was one of 13 educators who the university awarded Doctor of Educational Leadership degrees during the Fall 2025 Commencement on Dec. 11.

The SC State College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences conducted a hooding ceremony for the graduates on Dec. 10.

“SC State is one of those best-kept secrets, but you’ve got to continue to share and shine on the best that SC State has to offer for all students and, more importantly, know that you can find a program that fits you,” said Brooks-McCallum, principal of W.S. Sandel Elementary School in Columbia.

She said she chose to attend SC State to obtain her doctorate degree because of its reputation for academic excellence.

Research, rigor and relevance

SC State earned its designation as a Research 2 (R2) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education earlier this year. It is the state’s only R2 university and provides advanced research-oriented degrees to school leaders across the state. R2 classification requires $5 million in research spending and 20 research doctorates awarded annually, with SC State exceeding both of those requirements.

The title of Brooks-McCallum’s dissertation was “An Examination of the Impact of Read to Succeed on Student Achievement in Third Grade English Language Arts.”

“As a principal and former English teacher, I want to look at literacy. I looked at Read to Succeed via student achievement and expectations based on the program. I looked at how literacy really has improved the performance of students in the public school system across South Carolina to determine if our students are ready for third grade reading and mastery,” she said.

The other graduates were:

• Dr. Tonya J. Addison
• Dr. Cody D. Brandyburg
• Dr. Herasheia R. Dozier
• Dr. Ronald M. Edwards
• Dr. Cynthia M. Grant
• Dr. Tyhesia L. Hardin-Jackson
• Dr. Charlene C. Heard
• Dr. Dietra Jameine Holmes
• Dr. Sybil Danielle Major
• Dr. Angela K. Parham
• Dr. LaRonda A. Shaw
• Dr. Monyer Williams

Dozier said SC State was the right place in which to pursue her educational goals.

“This is my alma mater, so it feels like home. I know the quality of education that I received in my undergraduate studies, so it’s just the right decision and choice for me to come back,” she said.

The title of her dissertation was “An Examination of the Role of School Climate in Shaping Teacher Retention Decisions in South Carolina High Schools.”

“I’ve had a lot of experience working with rural schools and urban schools. We tend to find that we can get teachers to come, but it’s getting them to stay that’s the trick. So, I try to focus on how we can keep teachers,” said Dozier, a teacher in the Charleston County School District.

“I want to dig more into my research with high school climate, culture and teacher retention and do some consulting work and continue in serving school districts,” she said.

Leadership beyond the degree

Dr. Todd A. Walker, superintendent of Richland School District 1, served as the featured speaker during the ceremony.

Walker stressed the importance of leadership, mentors, relationships, growth and children during his speech.

“Leadership happens no matter where you are. Leadership is not a position. Leadership is a disposition,” the superintendent said. “Stay on the growing edge.”

For more information about SC State’s Doctor of Educational Leadership program, contact Dr. Percy A. Mack Jr., chairman of the Department of Educational Leadership, at pmack@scsu.edu or 803-516-4734. Information about all SC State fields of study can be found at www.scsu.edu/academics.