Honorable Dr. Monica E. Scott is a CHAMPION for education and a voice for the voiceless. She believes that every child can learn when they have a certified, caring, friendly and innovative teacher standing before them; every child is entitled to an awesome education regardless of their race and/or zip code.
She lives by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything”. Another quote she loves to reference is “Give a man a fish, he will eat for a day; teach him how to fish, he will eat for a lifetime” Chinese Proverb.
She was born and raised in Columbia, S.C. and continued her education, earning a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education and family and consumer sciences from South Carolina State University, a master’s in divergent learning from Columbia College, educational specialist from Cambridge University and doctorate degree in educational leadership from South Carolina State University.
Dr. Monica E. Scott is a retired elementary principal with more than 30 years in education. Currently, she is an entrepreneur who serves as an educational consultant where she trains thousands of educators nationwide in classroom management, data analysis, and instructional leadership.
Dr. Scott has worked in a variety of capacities ranging from kindergarten, first- and fourth-grade teacher, high school teacher, to serving as a school administrator at the elementary and high school levels. Most recently, she worked as principal of an elementary school in a neighboring district. Dr. Scott is a former adjunct professor in the Education Department at USC Upstate and Columbia College.
Dr. Scott is actively involved in community service and feels that it’s her duty, responsibility and calling to give back to the underprivileged.
She serves on numerous boards, committees and organizations including the South Carolina Schools Board Association (SCSBA) Director for Region 8, South Carolina Association for School Administrators (SCASA), South Carolina Alliance of Black Educators (SCABSE), South Carolina School Board Caucus of Black School Board Members, Carolina Women for Change and Empowerment Board.
She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Eastern Star as well as a life member of the NAACP and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post # 4262. She is a Charter member of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) in Newberry; Women Connecting Women, and a court appointed Guardian Ad Litem. She is a former volunteer with the Richland County Sheriff Department’s Youth Arbitration Program.
Dr. Scott’s past community work includes service on the Minority Recruitment Committee for Richland District Two, Richland Two Charter School board, South Carolina Education Association (SCEA) Board, Richland County Education Association (RCEA) Board and Richland County First Steps Board.
In 2009, in honor of her late grandmother; Louetta Gantt, Dr. Elkins Scott created an educational scholarship foundation (with her own money) in which she gives out $500 scholarships to several students to assist them with their educational goals towards college.
Dr. Scott is married and a native of Columbia, S.C. In her spare time, she enjoys shopping, traveling, comedy shows, bowling, and reading leadership books.
Dr. Scott believes that she must be a champion for every student, teacher, and parent because it takes a village to change the world.