Superintendent Darrell Johnson has named Rex Coates as the new Director of the Greenwood School District 50 Early Childhood Center. Mr. Coates is currently the Principal at Oakland Elementary School and has over thirty years experience in education. Since being hired by District 50 in 1985, Mr. Coates has served as a teacher at Mathews and Oakland and as the Title I Coordinator at the District Office. Dr. Johnson says Mr. Coates is a perfect fit for the Early Childhood Center. “Mr. Coates is an outstanding administrator, but beyond that he has a tremendous talent and passion for education,” Dr. Johnson says. “Under his leadership and guidance, I am certain that the Greenwood Early Childhood Center will be a place where all students will receive a strong foundation in their education.”

     Dr. Johnson also announced that Mark Blackwell will be the new Principal at Oakland Elementary. Mr. Blackwell is currently the Principal at East End Elementary, and has been with District 50 for 18 years. In that time, he has served as a teacher at Woodfields, East End and Hodges, and principal at Hodges Elementary. Mr. Blackwell earned his Masters from Clemson University. “Mr. Blackwell has made outstanding gains at East End Elementary,” said Dr. Johnson. “I’m sure he will take over where Mr. Coates left off, and continue building on the educational success at Oakland Elementary.”