CODY SOSSAMON PUBLISHER I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I met Kim Bagwell for the first time.

I have been seeing her name in stories about the Cherokee County School District for years.

It seemed to me she was always being sent here or there to be principal of this school or that school or to fill in for someone at the district office.

That’s about all I knew about her, other than her husband died several months ago and he had worked at Brookview nursing home for years.

Since she had been named interim superintendent for Cherokee County Schools, I felt I should at least meet her.

That would only be fair, wouldn’t it? Seeing as how I end up writing columns about our superintendents, I should at least know who I’m writing about.

Last Thursday, I met with her at the district office. A meeting I thought would last about 30 minutes turned into a 3-hour session.

I must say, I was impressed by the woman.

But first, let me share a little of her background.

She was born and raised in Cherokee County. She started dating her future husband Tim when she was 14 and he was 18.

“The only reason my parents let me date him was he was the preacher’s son,” she said.

They got married when she graduated from high school. They had four children, two boys and two girls, all educated in Cherokee County schools, with the youngest entering the 10th grade this year.

She got her first job teaching at Draytonville Elementary under Principal Billy Elmore.

“He is among the many in this district who gave me opportunities to advance. My background is more varied than most who step into this (superintendent’s) position,” Bagwell said.

She was a teacher from 1984-1990 and moved to the district office where she led the state and federal remedial programs until 1995.

She was named principal at Luther Vaughan where she remained until 2000, when she came back to the district office as elementary coordinator. From 2000 until March of this year, she filled in as principal at a number of schools and held other positions at various schools and the district office.

“Everywhere I’ve been I feel I’ve learned more than I’ve given,” she said.

What impressed me the most about Bagwell is that she did not seem impressed with herself as being the “top dog” in the school district.

“I went to school to work with children and try to make things better for them. I’m happy with where I am in life. I’m not out to be a millionaire. Becoming the superintendent of a school district was not my long-term goal and keeping it is not what motivates me.”

Bagwell says the biggest challenge she has faced since assuming the post in March is utilizing personnel effectively and maintaining job security for employees.

“I had to make sure the changes we made would not compromise our instructional programs. Also, I want to shift the district’s focus back to students and instruction,” she said. “We have all the pieces in place — qualified personnel, a curriculum beyond the basics and resources for classrooms. There is no reason our school district cannot be on top.”

She did not want her picture made: “I want to be able to go to the grocery store,” but she did reluctantly reveal her age: 49.

She came across as someone who wants to do the right thing by all the district employees and especially the students. She feels this district can be much more successful in educating its students and is confident she can lead the way.

But if trustees decide she is not the person for the job, she’s OK with that.

She has teaching in her blood, she says, and as long as she can be involved in educating children she will be happy.

I’m not jumping on the Bagwell Bandwagon just yet, but I like her attitude.

Cody Sossamon (cody@gaffneyledger.com) is publisher of The Gaffney Ledger.