Lexington County School District 2 has selected its next leader.

The district board voted Thursday to offer its superintendent position to Brenda Hafner, “subject to mutually agreed upon terms and conditions,” per a press release.

Previous superintendent Nicolas Wade resigned May 10. His sudden departure came with no reason given and ended two school years after he came to District 2 from Illinois. 

In May, Hafner left the Sumter School District, where she served as the second-in-charge member of the administration with the title chief of schools, for the deputy superintendent role for the Summerville-based Dorchester School District 2.

The Sumter Item, The Chronicle’s sister paper, reported on the circumstances that led up to Hafner’s departure.

“Hafner joined Sumter School District in February 2018 as an assistant superintendent under then-interim superintendent Debbie Hamm,” The Item’s Bruce Mills wrote in May. “When current superintendent Penelope Martin-Knox came to Sumter in July 2019, Hafner's position was changed to chief of schools, serving as second in command in the school district.”

“Hafner was in the news in March when a split Sumter school board voted 5-4 on Feb. 28 for her to serve as acting superintendent after they, in the same vote, told Martin-Knox to leave her post with prorated pay four months before her contract ended.”

That vote was invalidated by a state circuit court judge during a civil lawsuit because it wasn’t included on the agenda. Martin-Knox was reinstated, with Hafner returning to her role as chief of schools. Martin-Knox, who asked the Sumter board not to extend her contract, will become a superintendent in Missouri when her contract ends at the end of June.

“Hafner has been a finalist for three superintendent positions in the last three years, including Dorchester School District 2 this spring,” Mills reported. “That position went to Kershaw County School District Superintendent Shane Robbins last month.”

Lexington 2 issued a reminder that Hafner was also previously a finalist for its superintendent post when Wade was hired in 2020.

“At that time, district stakeholders communicated their vision and priorities for a superintendent, and the board was impressed with Dr. Hafner’s qualifications and experience,” the Lexington 2 news release states. “During Thursday’s special called meeting, the board interviewed Dr. Hafner for a second time.”

The district notes that Hafner’s education career began in 1998 at E.L. Wright Middle School in Richland County School District 2. Show rose to principal of Blythewood Middle School in 2009 and then moved to the principal job at Blythewood High School in 2014, “and while there increased its graduation rate to 94 percent from 86 percent,” Lexington 2 states.

She moved from Blythewood High to her second-in-charge role in Sumter in 2018.

Hafner has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of South Carolina, a master’s degree in teaching from The Citadel and a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

“The board believes that Dr. Hafner will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to Lexington Two, noting she is ‘a servant leader with a passion for children and a love for learning,’” the release states.

“Our Board is excited to welcome Dr. Brenda Hafner to the Lexington Two family,” Board Chair Christina Rucker is quoted. “Dr. Hafner has several strong characteristics that will be valuable to our school district. She is passionate about her work, and we are looking forward to what she will bring to Lex2.”

The release notes that Hafner will be introduced to “Lexington Two and community stakeholders over the next several weeks.”

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to join the Lexington Two team,” Hafner is quoted. “I look forward to meeting our stakeholders and working with the students, staff, parents, and community to take Lexington Two to the next level. I feel very strongly that if we work together to identify our priorities and hone in on best practices, nothing will be out of reach for the students of Lexington Two.”

Lexington 2, located in the far east of Lexington County, covers West Columbia, Cayce and Springdale. Airport and Brookland-Cayce are its two high schools.

The district has been in the news recently for reasons beyond Wade’s resignation. Two of its employees — Leon Russell (assistant principal at Brookland-Cayce) and Melanie Juliette Harris (teacher’s assistant at Cayce Elementary) were arrested in late May for allegedly assaulting students.