Charlene Stokes is following in her father's footsteps by becoming principal of Bethune-Bowman Elementary School.

Stokes' father, Dr. Samuel Alston, was the principal there for many years and thinks that his daughter is the right person for the job.

"It's an honor and pleasure. I know that she will have the same high expectations. I know that she will be successful. I could not think of anybody else I would have succeed me, she deserves the position," Alston said.

Stokes said she has always looked up to her father.

"He's always pushed me to do more than what's expected. He's excited because he wants this school and community to have a good leader," she said.

Alston imparted some wisdom to his daughter in turning over the reins of leadership. He encouraged her to get to know the area, parents and the community so that together they can make the school the best that it can become.

It's advice that Stokes plans on taking as she already has met with some teachers to reach a common ground and a common goal. On Aug. 16, Bethune-Bowman will have an open house to reach out to the community and parents.

So far, so good, says Stokes about the reception she's received from the faculty and staff she has met.

"I've been received rather well," she said.

Stokes added, "I love the job, I love Orangeburg School District Five."

She believes her father has left the school in excellent shape with the successful programs that he installed. However, Stokes does not plan to rest on those laurels. She says math scores on standardized tests must improve and she plans to strengthen the school's math curriculum to increase those scores.

Another step Stokes wants to take is moving away from using worksheets in the classroom. Stokes believes students might briefly learn from worksheets, but that they do not retain the information.

"I want classroom activities to be more hands-on," Stokes said.

She wants to implement new ways of recognizing and rewarding student achievement at Bethune-Bowman Elementary School. Stokes realizes that every student is not going to make straight As, but they can improve their grades from report card to report card. To recognize students that accomplish this goal, Stokes is planning to have the BUG (Bringing Up Grades) program. Good behavior in and out of the classroom will be acknowledged as well.

Stokes was born in Illinois and grew up in a military family environment. Her parents met at South Carolina State University, and the family permanently located to Orangeburg once her father got out of the military.

After graduating from Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School, she attended Lane College in Jackson, Tenn. She then got her master's degree from the City College of New York. Upon earning her master's, she taught in New York for a year before becoming homesick, prompting her to move back to Orangeburg.

Stokes taught first grade for two years. She then settled at Whittaker Elementary for seven years of teaching fourth grade. Stokes moved up the education ladder by being named assistant principal of Allendale Elementary, while earning her education specialist degree from the University of South Carolina.

She then joined William J. Clark Middle School as a curriculum specialist and later assistant principal. She was then named principal of Carver-Edisto Middle School.

When Stokes is not working on her doctorate degree from S.C. State, she enjoys church, reading and spending time with her husband, Robert, and their two children.

Stokes has aspirations for her new school to be recognized both statewide and nationally as a school of excellence, but ultimately it is the children that drive Stokes' ambitions.

"I want people to say that she really cares about the kids, that she always put them first," she said.

T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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