Community members serve as 'Principal for a Day' across Horry County Schools, praise student engagement

Community members spent a day observing classrooms across Horry County Schools as part of the district’s annual "Principal for a Day" program, praising student engagement and staff culture, organizers said.

The day, described by the Presenter, included visits to multiple buildings and school events such as a Veterans Day program and family-focused activities like "donuts with dad" and "muffins with mom." "I've already gotten 5,000 steps today," the Presenter said, describing a busy morning of tours.

Why it matters: district leaders and volunteers said the program gives residents a chance to see daily operations—from early-morning drop-off to dismissal—and to better understand safety, staffing and student supports. A Meeting participant noted logistical challenges such as waiting in cold weather for buses but said staff coordination and attentiveness to safety were evident.

Observers reported consistent classroom engagement. The Presenter said she saw children "actively engaged in learning" across classrooms, with reading and writing on display in multiple rooms. Another participant described well-orchestrated classes and praised the attention paid by principals and faculty to students’ needs.

Speakers singled out examples of staff-student interactions that built culture. The Presenter described a "relaxed respect" in classrooms and recalled interactions with principals such as Mr. Paza, who smiled and engaged students rather than demanding formality. During a visit to Ocean Bay Middle School, the Presenter praised Principal Mr. Timmons for running what she called a "well-oiled" operation with plans in place for typical middle-school challenges.

Participants also described students facing ongoing struggles outside school. One Meeting participant recounted seeing a young girl who struggles and emphasized the importance of staff who help students find a niche; the Presenter urged persistence, saying "don't you give up" to educators and volunteers working with such students.

The event also highlighted the work of assistant principals and campus teams at larger schools. The Presenter noted the scale of some campuses and the teamwork required to keep operations running smoothly.

For more information about the program and district resources, the Presenter directed listeners to horrycountyschools.net. The visits are held annually to strengthen connections between schools and the community and to give local leaders and residents firsthand exposure to classroom practice and student supports.