Aiken County Public School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Chad Smith as principal of Langley-Bath-Clearwater (LBC) Middle School beginning with the 2026-27 school year.
Smith joins the district with a strong background in instructional leadership, student support, curriculum development, and school improvement at both the middle and high school levels.
As part of the district’s ongoing commitment to connecting community input to decision-making, parents and guardians of Langley-Bath-Clearwater Middle School students were invited to participate in a leadership survey to help identify the qualities and priorities most important in selecting the school’s next principal.
Survey participants identified being trustworthy, approachable, student-centered, and a strong communicator among the most important qualities for LBC's next principal. Families also emphasized the importance of a leader who promotes a safe school environment and leads with integrity. Creating a positive learning and working environment and supporting student academic achievement also emerged as top priorities.
“Mr. Smith is a dynamic educational leader who is deeply committed to student success, academic achievement, and building strong relationships within a school community,” said Superintendent Dr. Corey Murphy. “Throughout the interview and selection process, it became clear that his leadership philosophy closely aligned with the qualities and priorities our LBC families shared through the community survey process. We are grateful to everyone who provided feedback and helped inform this important decision.”
Smith currently serves as assistant principal at Hillcrest High School in Simpsonville, South Carolina, where he oversees the English, Physical Education, and Fine Arts departments and serves as a secondary testing coordinator and MTSS support administrator. During his tenure, Hillcrest High School achieved an “Excellent” rating on the state report card for the first time in school history and maintained that rating for a second consecutive year.
He has also played an active role in instructional improvement efforts, including collaborative work within English Professional Learning Communities that contributed to increased End-of-Course assessment passage rates.
Prior to his current role, Smith served as assistant principal at W.J. Keenan High School in Columbia, where he provided leadership for multiple academic departments, supervised athletics and student support programs, coordinated interventions for at-risk students, and supported curriculum and instructional development.
Smith also brings classroom experience as a middle school social studies teacher at Dent Middle School and St. George Middle School, where he focused on inquiry-based instruction, student engagement, and critical thinking.
In addition to his school leadership roles, Smith founded and directed the F.L.Y. Guy Society mentoring program, designed to support academic achievement and character development for young men. Participants in the program demonstrated significant academic growth and improved course passage rates.
Smith earned a Bachelor of Science in Middle Level Education from the University of South Carolina as well as master’s degrees in Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Administration from Grand Canyon University.
He is a member of the South Carolina Council for African American Studies, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the South Carolina Association of School Administrators.
“I vow to always lead with integrity, intelligence, compassion, and purpose,” said Smith. “I am excited to lead the charge in cementing Langley-Bath-Clearwater as one of the premier middle schools in our state. I was drawn to the community and its rich tradition of hard work, perseverance, and determination. The pride that is instilled in the students from its community is second to none, and I promise to always lead with excellence.”