This week, two more Lexington County educators were recognized with top state honors.

Megan Carrero, principal of Fulmer Middle School in West Columbia, was named Middle Level Principal of the Year by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators.

Rachel DiMaria, media specialist at Lake Murray Elementary School, was named School Librarian of the Year by the South Carolina Association of School Librarians.

“An unsuspecting Carrero was called Thursday afternoon into Fulmer’s media center, where SCASA Executive Director Beth Phibbs surprised her with the news, to cheers from Lexington Two and Fulmer administrators, along with members of Carrero’s family,” read a release from Lexington School District 2.

Carrero has worked at Fulmer since 2008. She started as a teacher before rising to assistant principal in 2009. She became principal in 2013. The release notes that the school had been designated as a National School to Watch multiple times under leadership and was ranked No. 81 on U.S. News & World Report’s list of the best middle schools in South Carolina.

“She is an exceptional leader who leads by example and has created a culture at R.H. Fulmer Middle School that fosters learning and growth for everyone,” Phibbs was quoted in the release.

“I find Mrs. Carrero to be an exuberant leader who is not defined by the challenges she encounters, but by the solutions she creates,” Lexington Two Superintendent Nicolas Wade is quoted. “If people want to know what real leadership and change is, I just feel they need to meet and talk to Megan Carrero. I find myself beyond fortunate to be working alongside her, and for her to be a part of Lexington Two.”

As the release noted, this was the second year in a row that a District 2 principal had won the statewide honor. David Basile of Pine Ridge Middle School took the prize last year.

Per a release from Lexington-Richland School District 5, DiMaria has a master’s in library science from the University of South Carolina and more than 15 years experience in education.

“Mrs. DiMaria is so much more than a Media Specialist,” Lake Murray Elementary School Principal Kelly Reese was quoted in the District 5 release. “She is a teacher, learner, and leader. She inspires our teachers and students to grow in their love of reading, while always introducing new authors and genres to us all.”