Dear Students, Parent/Guardians,
Welcome to the HOPE Academy where” HOPE is what we are all about.” My name is Dr. Relus Lucear Jr. and I am the new Principal of HOPE Academy. I am dedicated to ensuring that our staff actively engage parents and strengthen community partnership to support the needs of our students.
I wanted to share my experience and educational background with you. My education career started as a Special Education Teacher in 1996 with the Clayton County School District in Georgia. I have worked as a Special Education Teacher on the middle and high school levels all in Georgia. I transitioned from the classroom to an administrative position with the Georgia Department of Correction Education Division where I served as Principal. In 2011, I started with the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice where I served as Principal for 5 years. I moved to South Carolina in 2017 where I started a position as Assistant Principal with the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice. I then accepted a position as Assistant Principal at Bates Middle School in Sumter SC. Just recently, I was the Principal at Kingstree Middle Magnet School of the Arts.
I have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education, a Master’s in Public Administration, and Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership all from Georgia College in Milledgeville Ga. Lastly, I have obtained a Doctoral Degree in 2019 from South Carolina State University.
This parent and student handbook is used as a guide to our program and please familiarize yourself with the contents of the handbook. My door is always open to students, parents, and community members. Feel free to contact me at any time you have a question or concern. I can be reached by email at rlucear@wcsd.k12.sc.us or by phone at 843-355-5565
Sincerely,
Dr. Relus Lucear Jr.
Principal
