Education News

Former student finds new role at Royal Live Oaks Academy
Caroline Moore came to Royal Live Oaks Academy looking for a different school experience. Years later, she has returned to the Hardeeville charter school in a new role, helping students in a first-grade classroom.

Moore works as a paraprofessional at Royal Live Oaks Academy Charter School, assisting students with lessons, grading papers and providing classroom support. Her connection to the school, however, began when she was a student herself.

Growing up, Moore said she struggled with confidence and often felt out of place or overwhelmed at school. She eventually transferred to Royal Live Oaks, where she found that the smaller classroom environment made a difference.

“It just felt different the moment I walked in the door,” Moore said. “Getting to be in a smaller classroom worked wonders for the anxiety I had.”

Moore said her experience at Royal Live Oaks changed the way she approached school. Subjects including history, math, science and English became opportunities to build confidence rather than sources of apprehension.

“Being shown what I was capable of really changed my worldview,” Moore said. “From then on, I always dreamed of being able to do that for the next shy kid.”

That goal eventually brought Moore back to Royal Live Oaks, this time as an employee working with younger students who are beginning their own educational experiences.

For Moore, returning to the school has also provided an opportunity to reflect on her own experience as a student.

“More than anything, I want to pay it forward,” Moore said. “This school brought joy into my life, and I want to do that for every student who comes in those doors!”

Royal Live Oaks Academy Charter School is a public charter school in Hardeeville serving students in kindergarten through 12th grade from Beaufort and Jasper counties. The school says its educational approach is designed to address individual learning needs while providing opportunities for personal and academic growth.

Now on the other side of the classroom, Moore is working with students as they begin building their own academic foundations.

Beaufort County students named National Merit semifinalists
Two Beaufort County School District seniors have been named semifinalists in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Maggie McGrath of Hilton Head Island High School and Kaden Claffy of May River High School are among more than 16,000 semifinalists nationwide. The students represent less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors, according to information provided by the school district.

More than 1.2 million students at approximately 20,000 high schools entered the competition by taking the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

“We are extraordinarily proud of Maggie and Kaden for earning this prestigious recognition,” Superintendent Frank Rodriguez said. “Their dedication to academic excellence highlights the strength of our educators and the ambition of our students across Beaufort County School District.”

More than 15,000 semifinalists are expected to become finalists in February. Finalists will compete for approximately 6,700 scholarships valued at nearly $24 million, including 2,500 National Merit $2,500 Scholarships and corporate- and college-sponsored awards.

Winners are scheduled to be announced between April and July 2027.

Public invited to comment on proposed state academic standards through Oct 9

South Carolina residents can comment this month on proposed state academic standards for social studies and civics and world languages.

The Beaufort County School District is sharing the public review information on behalf of the South Carolina Department of Education.

Comments on the proposed 2028 South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Social Studies and Civics Standards will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. Oct. 9. Draft standards cover grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and high school, along with disciplinary reasoning standards.

Review materials and the public survey are available at ed.sc.gov/instruction/standards/social-studies/standards/. Questions may be directed to Sandra Ammons at sammons@ed.sc.gov.

USCB to hold Asian Cultural Studies Conference
The University of South Carolina Beaufort will hold its third annual Asian Cultural Studies Conference from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 30 at its Hilton Head Island campus.

The free conference will explore the cultures of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan through guest speakers, cultural activities and presentations by USCB faculty.

Scheduled keynote speakers are Jared Chu-en Lin, director-general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta; Kenneth W. Choi, deputy managing editor of Chosun Ilbo in South Korea; Hyungwon Kang, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist from South Korea; and Yuya Hirano, a member of Japan’s Gifu Prefectural Assembly.

USCB Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Kimberly Dudas and William Fugate, director of Japan strategy and aerospace development for the Southern Carolina Regional Development Alliance, are also scheduled to speak.

“USCB’s Asian Cultural Studies Conference provides an opportunity for our campus and community to engage directly with leaders and experts whose work connects South Carolina with Asia,” Dudas said.
Afternoon activities will include a book signing with Kang, a noodle cooking class led by Carol Weir and a tasting of sake, soju and kaoliang led by Sean Barth. The cooking class and tasting are limited to 20 participants each.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Lunch is free for the first 150 people who register.

Registration and additional information are available at USCB.edu/SKALE. Questions may be directed to HIGHLIGHTS@uscb.edu.