DR. BILL JAMES Cherokee County School District Superintendent Dr. Bill James will be honored March 3 in North Charleston as the state's top school administrator.

James was named the Educational Administrator of the Year this school year by the South Carolina Association of Educational Office Professionals (SCAEOP). He will receive the award at this weekend's SCAEOP Awards Luncheon at the Sheraton.

James has been superintendent for six years.

"The School Board of Trustees is proud of this accomplishment and congratulates Dr. James for his most recent recognition of being named Educational Administrator of the Year by SCAEOP," school board chairman Willie Crosby said in a press release.

James is the first Cherokee County educator to win the state recognition in the award's 24-year history. He was nominated for the state award following his selection earlier this year as the top administrator by the Cherokee County Association of Education Office Professionals.

"Dr. James' selection was based on his numerous accomplishments and record of service beyond the call of duty during his distinguished career as an educator and his record made him deserving of this award," committee chairperson Evon S. Williams wrote in a letter to James announcing the award last week.

James was nominated for the Cherokee County award by his secretary Shelia Lemmonds.

During his time as superintendent, Gaffney High School was chosen Palmetto's Finest High School last year and the district's high school academy program was honored in 2004 as the state's best new instructional program.

"This is a tremendous honor to be chosen as the Educator of the Year out of all the outstanding educators who work in the state," James said. "I'm very fortunate to be able to work with the caliber of folks here in Cherokee County. There are a lot of good things happening in our schools."

James began his education career on March 16, 1977, working as a biology teacher and coach at Jonesville High after graduating early from Wofford College. A long-term substitute teaching assignment quickly turned into a 30-year education career filled with experiences as a teacher; football, basketball and track coach; school principal and superintendent.

Former superintendent Dr. Willie Ross and personnel director Jim Patterson recruited James from Airport High in Columbia to take the Gaffney High principal position in 1997. He helped open the new Gaffney High in 2000 before a mid-year promotion to superintendent.

After a two-month stint as interim superintendent, school trustees hired James as the permanent superintendent on Feb. 27, 2001. He is under contract through June 30, 2009.

James said he plans on remaining with the school district at least until his contract expires.He is noncommittal about his plans beyond 2009.

"I planned on going onto medical school after graduating from Wofford. I studied serology and even worked in a morgue for awhile," James said. "I got so caught up in teaching biology and coaching that it has turned into a really good career. I have been fortunate to be around a lot of good kids and educators."