Swansea Freshman Academy

Over the next couple weeks, we want to introduce the Class of 2029 and their family and friends to the Swansea Freshman Academy staff and faculty. We are so excited to meet you! As a 2009 graduate of North High School and OCTech EMT, Mrs. Raulerson has worked for Lexington 4 for the past five years in the SFHA media center. She worked for Orangeburg District 4 in Operations and Planning prior to joining Lexington 4. She is married to Nathan Raulerson, a 2006 Swansea graduate, and they have a baby girl, Sadie. In her spare time, Mrs. Raulerson enjoys cheering her Gamecocks on, riding her side by side, fishing, going to the mountains, shopping, and, most of all, spending time with her family.

Over the next couple weeks, we want to introduce the Class of 2029 and their family and friends to the Swansea Freshman Academy staff and faculty. We are so excited to meet you! Mr. Mike Donovan is a graduate of Bowling Green State and Cleveland State University with a Master's degree in Educational Technology. In the Ready for Success class, he helps students explore their strengths and interests related to careers and postsecondary education, and build skills to get them there. He is married to Mrs. Donovan, the Media Specialist at Sandhills Middle School, and has two children. His hobbies include playing board games, cooking, and working in the yard.

Over the next couple weeks, we want to introduce the Class of 2029 and their family and friends to the Swansea Freshman Academy staff and faculty. We are so excited to meet you! Mrs. Young grew up in Greenville, SC and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from the University of South Carolina. After teaching English in Mexico for a short while she realized she liked working with students but not necessarily in the structure of the classroom, so she went back to school for a master's degree in School Counseling. She later earned an Educational Specialist degree in Counselor Education from the University of South Carolina. She currently lives in Columbia, SC with her husband and children, ages 17 and 11. She enjoys spending time with them, hanging out with my book club friends, trying new foods and listening to old-school hip-hop and R&B music. She has worked as a school counselor for 16 years.

Over the next couple weeks, we want to introduce the Class of 2029 and their family and friends to the Swansea Freshman Academy staff and faculty. We are so excited to meet you! Leonelle Narciso is from the Philippines, and she graduated from the University of San Carlos with a Major in Special Education. She has worked as a teacher in the Philippines and recently in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. During her leisure time, she watches movies and plays video games, and she loves playing sports, especially basketball, soccer and badminton. She is very excited to be part of SFA family for this coming school year.

Over the next couple weeks, we want to introduce the Class of 2029 and their family and friends to the Swansea Freshman Academy staff and faculty. We are so excited to meet you! Sergeant First Class (R) Dawson retired from the U.S. Army in 2010, after 20 years of service. This is her thirteenth year as an Army JROTC instructor. SFC Dawson is married to her "Army Sweetheart" & together they have four children. She proudly calls Swansea her other home 😊. When she's not working, she enjoys roller skating, dancing & spending time with her family. SFC Dawson loves her JROTC Cadets & is excited to meet the 2025-2026 Freshmen Cadets.

Over the next couple weeks, we want to introduce the Class of 2029 and their family and friends to the Swansea Freshman Academy staff and faculty. We are so excited to meet you! Ms. Peacita was born and raised in the Philippines. She earned her bachelor's degree in Secondary Education, majoring in Mathematics at Philippine Normal University. Next, she earned her master's degree in Mathematics at West Negros University, and she has just completed her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Mathematics Education at the University of St. La Salle, Bacolod City, Philippines. She is an exchange teacher from the Philippines and has been teaching math for 13 years. Her childhood dream was to become a teacher, and she always wanted to teach, touch lives, and inspire students to love math. She loves her family so much and enjoys cooking, traveling, and learning new things about math concepts.

Over the next couple weeks, we want to introduce the Class of 2029 and their family and friends to the Swansea Freshman Academy staff and faculty. We are so excited to meet you! As a graduate of USC Aiken, Mrs. Marrero has taught math for 14 years at Swansea High School, Swansea Freshman Academy, and Lexington 2/4 Adult Education. She is married to Jose Marrero and has two children. Her hobbies include playing word games and traveling.

Ready to kick off the new school year? Join us for Meet the Teacher and get your student set up for success! 📅 When: Wednesday, July 30th ⏰ Time: 1:30 PM - 6:30 PM 📍 Where: Start in the Cafeteria This is your chance to: ✅ Complete registration & verify transportation ✅ Review your schedule ✅ Tour the school & take ID pictures This is a drop-in event - come anytime during the window that works best for your schedule. We can't wait to see you there and welcome everyone back to another amazing year of learning!

Over the next couple weeks, we want to introduce the Class of 2029 and their family and friends to the Swansea Freshman Academy staff and faculty. We are so excited to meet you! As a 2001 graduate of Swansea and a 2008 graduate of USC, Mrs. Nicholas has taught science for 12 years, the last 10 at Swansea Freshman Academy. She is married to Daryl Nicholas, a fellow Swansea alumnus, and has two children. Her hobbies include camping, visiting zoos/aquariums, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Over the next couple weeks, we want to introduce the Class of 2029 and their family and friends to the Swansea Freshman Academy staff and faculty. We are so excited to meet you! Ms. Jumpp is a Swansea grad who earned her Bachelor's in Science from USC. She spent some time working in the field as a zookeeper at Riverbanks Zoo before transitioning to education. This is her tenth year teaching and eighth year in the district. She has a huge passion for earth and life sciences. Ms. Jumpp loves to travel and camp with her daughter, creating all kinds of fun memories, reading, and spending time outdoors. She has two dogs, a cat, and a snake at home.

Over the next couple weeks, we want to introduce the Class of 2029 and their family and friends to the Swansea Freshman Academy staff and faculty. We are so excited to meet you! Ms. Teater is a dedicated special education teacher committed to creating inclusive learning environments. With expertise in personalized education plans, she strives to support and empower students with diverse needs, ensuring they achieve their full potential. Her passion for teaching and advocacy for individualized support make her a valued educator in her field.

Over the next couple weeks, we want to introduce the Class of 2029 and their family and friends to the Swansea Freshman Academy staff and faculty. We are so excited to meet you! Mr. Able grew up in Columbia and graduated from the University of South Carolina, earning a Bachelor's degree in geography. After graduating college, he spent nearly ten years in the US Army, leaving with the rank of Captain to pursue a career in teaching. Mr. Able retired three years ago after teaching and coaching football for 30 years in South Carolina. He loves fitness, travel, the water(pool, lake, or beach), and spending time with his wife.

Over the next couple weeks, we want to introduce the Class of 2029 and their family and friends to the Swansea Freshman Academy staff and faculty. We are so excited to meet you! Ms. Dennis resides in Columbia with her 2-year-old puppy, Misha and her rescued cat named Luna. She graduated from the University of South Carolina with a BA in History and Grand Canyon University with a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership. She has taught for over 20 years and is excited to start this school year. Her hobbies include reading, hiking, and playing with her fur babies .

SMS and SHS Volleyball Tryouts will be held on August 5th and 6th from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM in the SHS Gym. All athletes must attend both days of tryouts to be considered for the team. Participants must have a current sports physical dated after April 1, 2025 in order to try out. For more information, please contact: mhall-williams@lexington4.net or csmith@lexington4.net We look forward to seeing our future Lady Tigers on the court!

Over the next couple weeks, we want to introduce the Class of 2029 and their family and friends to the Swansea Freshman Academy staff and faculty. We are so excited to meet you! Ms. Taylor has worked in the Lexington 4 community for 33 years (25 years as an English teacher and 8 as a Media Specialist), and she is committed to making the community the best it can be. She moved to Swansea after graduating from Bob Jones University with a Bachelor's degree in English Education. She received a Master's from the University of South Carolina in Library and Information Science. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, gardening, and traveling.

Over the next couple weeks, we want to introduce the Class of 2029 and their family and friends to the Swansea Freshman Academy staff and faculty. We are so excited to meet you! Ms. McHugh spent most of her life in Swansea and the Columbia area before moving across the country, where she earned her Bachelor's in English Secondary Education from Utah Valley University. While this is her third full year as a full-time teacher, she spent most of her undergraduate years working as an after-school mentor and later a paraprofessional at residential special needs schools in the Utah area. Her hobbies include crocheting, calligraphy, writing, and spending time with her dog.

Over the next couple weeks, we want to introduce the Class of 2029 and their family and friends to the Swansea Freshman Academy staff and faculty. We are so excited to meet you! As a Business Management graduate of SUNY Empire State, Mrs. Jones Gist has been in business management for more than 25 years. As a fifth-year teacher, she hopes to continue to inspire and motivate her students at SFA. She is married and a mother of three children and one fur baby. Her hobbies include fishing, camping, cooking, sports, and all things family!

Over the next couple weeks, we want to introduce the Class of 2029 and their family and friends to the Swansea Freshman Academy staff and faculty. We are so excited to meet you! Assistant Principal Ms. Petersen is a 2004 graduate of Wright State University, a 2009 graduate of Bellevue University, a 2012 graduate of Notre Dame College, and a 2022 graduate of the American College of Education. Ms. Petersen was employed for 11 years as a science teacher, team leader, department chair, and instructional coach for Orangeburg County School District. In her spare time she enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and exercising. She is looking forward to serving the SFA stakeholders and the surrounding community this school year!

Over the next couple weeks, we want to introduce the Class of 2029 and their family and friends to the Swansea Freshman Academy staff and faculty. We are so excited to meet you! As a 2010 graduate of the University of South Carolina, a 2014 graduate of Winthrop University, and a 2021 graduate of Gardner Webb University, Ms. O'Neill has worked for Lexington 4 for the past 11 years. Previously, she served as the School Counselor of Sandhills Middle and is currently serving SFA as the Principal. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her two children, relaxing at the beach, and reading. She is very excited to serve SFA stakeholders and the surrounding community this coming school year!

Save the Date: Meet the Teacher July 30 1:30-6:30 Connect with your student's teachers and learn how we can work together to support your student during this pivotal transition year.