BRANCHVILLE -- George Benton's big, happy smile and friendly demeanor have brightened up even the darkest days in his 33-year educational career in Orangeburg County public schools.

Teacher, job coordinator, counselor, assistant principal and principal are just a sample of the many hats the 56-year-old has worn throughout a career which just seems to keep going and going.

It is his amiable spirit and ability to diffuse potential problems to ensure an optimum educational experience for students that has earned his designation as the exemplification of self-control for the month of May as part of Orangeburg County's Community of Character Initiative.

"I'm deeply honored. I can think of so many other individuals who ... should receive this sort of honor, but I will accept it. I'll represent all those who have helped me along the way. I've just met so many wonderful people," said Benton, principal of Branchville High School.

"The students are our stars, and we've got to make them shine bright. They will make some mistakes along the way, but we have to help them pick themselves up ... and learn from them and then do better. I think that's our job as teachers. We're cheerleaders for the students," Benton said.

Originally from Walterboro, Benton began his career as a teacher, football coach and baseball coach at Carlisle Military School in Bamberg. He was employed with the former Orangeburg School District 5 for 14 years as teacher, job coordinator, counselor and assistant principal at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School. He went on to serve as principal of North High School from 1987 to 1990 before serving as principal at Edisto High School for 10 years.

After retiring as principal of EHS in 2000, Benton was soon tapped to become principal at Branchville High School.

"I'm just finishing my first year at Branchville. Self-control is very important. You've got to be a good listener. If I listen, I'll be more inclined to see where a problem is stemming from. Sometimes you can actually make a situation worse, so it's ... good to listen and get the facts before you try and develop an opinion or a solution," said Benton, who has also served as director of Orangeburg Consolidated School District 4's School to Work project.

"For two years, when I left Edisto High, I also worked with the district on character. I was the district's character coordinator among nine other titles at the time. I just really enjoyed that," Benton said.

Benton credits his parents, Audis and Annie Mae Benton, with his ability to exercise restraint over his own impulses and emotions. He said an attitude of self-control enables him to be able to work with everyone in a school district for the betterment of students.

"I don't ever remember my parents arguing in front of me. I don't ever remember them discussing financial problems in front of me, and I'm sure they had some. When I was talking to my daddy several years ago, I said, 'You know, I never heard you and Mama arguing.' He said, 'Well, you might have heard your Mama arguing; you just didn't hear me arguing back.' I thought about that, and it did make some sense," Benton said. "I feel like we need to work together to try and promote each other. It takes a lot of self-discipline to do that. Each of us can be successful. If you have an opportunity to do something good, do it," he said.

Benton already has plans to launch Branchville High School's own character program for the 2003-2004 school year. He said decorated bulletin boards and designating teacher and student examples of each of the county's monthly traits will be among the ways the initiative will be highlighted within the school.

"If each school promotes character, it's just a win-win situation for our kids because so much of their success really depends on attitude," Benton said.

Benton attended high school at Carlisle Military School. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina, a master's in education from South Carolina State University and the education specialist degree from The Citadel.

T&D Staff Writer Dionne Gleaton can be reached by e-mail at dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5534.

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