Three new principals named at Beaufort County schools, including Beaufort High School
Beaufort County School District named three new principals Tuesday, including the replacement for Carla Shelton, the former Beaufort High School principal who departed from the role just weeks before the end of the school year.
For Lady’s Island Elementary School the new administrator is an internal hire while May River High School’s new principal arrives next month from outside of the district.
At Beaufort High School, new principal Ryan Walsh previously worked as an assistant principal at the school from August 2018 until June 2022, when he left to assume responsibilities as an assistant principal at Bluffton Middle School, according to district spokesperson Candace Bruder. He didn’t work at the high school under Shelton, who was later hired in June 2022.
Board member Will Smith, who represents the Beaufort High School’s district, said that they are past the point of transitioning after Shelton’s departure as Assistant Principal Sonji Leach handled the transition as interim principal.
“We’re past that phase,” he said. “And now (the new principal) just has to come in with what his goals are and let the community know exactly what he intends to do.”
Smith said he is looking forward to working with Walsh and it’s an advantage that he already knows the community.
“(He) has an opportunity to be able to grow and develop kids to become better, citizens of the county,” Smith said.
Bruder said the principals were unavailable for an interview because they don’t start their positions until next month.
The new principals, their background and new schools, according to a press release, are:
Beaufort High School – Ryan Walsh
Coming from a position as assistant principal at Bluffton Middle School, Walsh began his career as a middle school social studies teacher in Indian Head, Maryland and Estill, South Carolina.
Previously he was an assistant principal at Beaufort High School. He was a graduation coach, special education administrator, master teacher, and assistant principal in Varnville, South Carolina. He has a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas Arlington.
May River High School – KaRon Webb, Ed.D.
An outside hire, Webb will replace Todd Bornscheuer, who retired. Webb began his leadership career as an assistant administrator at Spring Valley High School in Columbia, South Carolina and later served as assistant principal in Chester, South Carolina and as principal of Ridge Spring-Montetta Middle/High School in Montetta, South Carolina.
Webb holds master’s and doctoral degrees in Education in Administration from South Carolina State University.
Lady’s Island Elementary School – Jason Osborne
Osborne is permanently moving into the position after serving as interim principal since November 2022, when former principal Davina Coleman was promoted to Whale Branch Early College High School. Previously, he was assistant principal for seven years.
Osborne began his educational career as a teacher and Instructional Coach at Broad River Elementary School, where he also served as a master teacher and International Baccalaureate coordinator. It said that Osborne holds master’s degrees in Education in Administration from Grand Canyon University and Middle Grades Education from Clemson University.
