Celebrate 20 years of arts integration in South Carolina with an unforgettable panel featuring four trailblazing leaders--Dr. Ron Garner, Susan Woodham, Melody Powell, and Libby Ricardo—all past recipients of the Ray Doughty Arts Integration Award.
Gain insights from higher education, district leadership, the classroom, and community partners as they share their experiences and vision for the future of arts in education.
Guided by the beloved theater teacher Kelly Hall, this panel will honor the past, highlight the present, and inspire the next 20 years of creativity in our schools.
When: Tuesday, October 28, 9:00 AM
Where: WHERE CREATIVITY MEETS EDUCATION: CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF ARTS INTEGRATION
Note: Registration is required to attend.
After a 29-year career in education, Ron Garner now serves as Chief Talent Officer for OneSpartanburg, Inc., leading efforts to strengthen Spartanburg County’s talent ecosystem and, in turn, the region’s economy, business climate, and tourism outlook. Ron joined OneSpartanburg, Inc. in May 2023 after 13 years as superintendent of Spartanburg County School District One. Under his leadership, the district expanded its financial and technological capacity, improved student achievement, and successfully prepared for and managed significant community growth. A passionate advocate for arts education, Ron championed the expansion and integration of the arts across all grade levels, earning him the 2016 Ray Doughty Arts Integration Award from Palmetto State Arts Education. His career also includes service as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, middle and high school principal, and assistant superintendent.
As Chief Talent Officer, Ron oversees the talent strategies outlined in the OneSpartanburg Vision Plan 2.0, the county’s second five-year community and economic development strategy. His work focuses on advancing college affordability, expanding career connections for local students, increasing adult degree attainment, improving childcare and early education, and positioningSpartanburg as a destination for knowledge-based professionals.
​Susan Woodham served as Dance Specialist for Pine Street Elementary School for over 20 years. She is Outreach Coordinator and Instructor for Ballet Spartanburg. She earned her BA in psychology and her MEd in Elementary Education from Converse College. She is certified in elementary education and in dance. She served as facilitator for Curriculum Leadership Institute in the Arts for over 10 years and on the team to rewrite the SC Academic Standards for the Visual and Performing Arts twice. She served as president for the SC Dance Association twice along with a variety of roles within the organization. She currently serves on the Advocacy Committee and the Ad Hoc Committee for SCDA Dance Performance Assessment. Ms. Woodham served on the advisory council for the SC Dance Education Organization. She is the developer and coordinator of Ballet Spartanburg’s City Dance, a dance program for inner city students. She was named SC Dance Association’s Dance Educator of the Year for 2000-2001 and Pine Street School’s Teacher of the Year in 2013. She has been honored with a Career Achievement award from Converse College and the Ray Doughty Arts Integration Award from Palmetto State Arts Education Organization. In addition to dance, Ms. Woodham enjoys reading, being an advocate for arts education and contra dancing.
​Libby Ricardo, MFA, CHSE, is an Associate Professor of Theater and Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of South Carolina Beaufort where she also serves as Program Coordinator for the Interdisciplinary Studies degree. The emphasis of both her teaching and research is the promotion of theater skills as life skills, including extensive work with simulated patient programs. Her students have engaged in simulated encounters for courses across the disciplines including nursing, psychology, public health, and human services. Libby has also collaborated with colleagues in computer science, biology, and mathematics to implement experiential learning opportunities.  She has published in Journal of American Drama and Theatre, Theatre Topics, PARtake: the Journal of Performance as Research, and CourseSource. As an actor, Libby is an ensemble member with Lean Ensemble Theater, a professional theater company in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
​Melody Powell is a 3rd grade teacher at Stone Academy, an arts integrated elementary school in Greenville County. Outside of the classroom, Melody serves on the board for PSAE (Palmetto State Arts Education), works with the ABC Institute as a part of the Teacher as Curator cohort, and is an active teaching partner with the SMARTarts program (a subsidiary of the Metropolitan Arts Council).