The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO DR. STEVE AARON WILSON
______
HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN
of south carolina
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, December 1, 2021
Mr. CLYBURN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a life-
long educator who has had a tremendous impact on the students of South Carolina. It is my honor to congratulate Dr. Steve Wilson, as he retires after more than 50 years of service to public education. He leaves a legacy of excellence that will continue to benefit future generations.
Dr. Wilson was born in Fairfield County, South Carolina, the oldest of nine children born to Aaron and Lugenia Wilson. From an early age, his parents instilled in him the importance of education to rise above the modest means of his childhood. Dr. Wilson graduated from McCrorey-
Liston High School in Blair, South Carolina, where he excelled in academics and athletics.
He was able to secure scholarships, work study, financial aid and student loans to pay for his higher education at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina. There he earned a degree in biology and built friendships and relationships that lasted throughout his life. While a student, he joined the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and I am proud to call him a brother.
Immediately after graduating in 1972, Dr. Wilson was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served on active duty for two years before joining the Reserves. He rose to the rank of Major and served as Personnel Officer of his battalion. His military service lasted a total of 15 years, and provided him significant opportunities to travel and learn from people with different backgrounds and experiences.
Following his active duty military service, Dr. Wilson returned to his high school to teach science and agriculture. At the same time, he used the GI Bill to earn a master's degree in agriculture from Clemson University. While teaching, he became interested in school leadership, and began studying for an Ed.S. in School Administration at Winthrop University. He later transferred to South Carolina State University, where he completed an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership in 2001.
In addition to beginning his career as a teacher at his alma mater, Dr. Wilson served in the administrations of Winnsboro/Fairfield Central High School, Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School, Newberry High School, W.J. Keenan High School, and Richland School District One. Today, he serves as Superintendent for Calhoun County Public Schools, from which he is retiring after eleven years of service.
His accomplishments include being named the first Black principal of Newberry High School where he served for six years and oversaw the school's strong academic performance. While serving as principal of Keenan High School, Dr. Wilson was named South Carolina Principal of the Year in 2003. He oversaw the school becoming the first Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) School in the district while partnering with the University of South Carolina's Engineering School. Keenan High School was also named a Palmetto's Finest High School for the State of South Carolina, and the school, which serves a disadvantaged population, made school history with 15 Black students attaining a 100 percent pass rate on the AP Math exam.
In 2010, he became Superintendent of the Calhoun County School District, which was rated At Risk on the District's Report Card. Within two years, he led the district to an Excellent rating. He oversaw the district's purchase of digital devices for every student from 3rd through 12th grades, and was named South Carolina Superintendent of the Year in 2017 for his accomplishments.
During his career, Dr. Wilson served on various committees including the Executive Committee of the South Carolina High School League, the Education Oversight Committee, and the State's Summer Leadership Conference Committee. He also received the Governor's Order of the Silver Crescent in 2004 and was named an outstanding graduate from the School of Leadership at South Carolina State University the same year. This year, Dr. Wilson was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators.
Dr. Wilson is married to his high school sweetheart, Teresa Hendrix Wilson, who also taught high school students for thirty years. They have two children, Teresa and Steven, and three granddaughters.
Madam Speaker, I ask you and our colleagues to join me in celebrating the tremendous work of Dr. Wilson. He exemplifies a commitment to service and a champion of education. His example has been a beacon for many students that have had the opportunity of learning in classrooms, schools, and districts under his leadership. Dr. Wilson's reach is immeasurable, and I wish him all the best as he embarks on the retirement he so richly deserves.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 207
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