The Lexington 1 Educational Foundation presented the 2021 Joseph M. Bedenbaugh Administrator of the Year Award to Mrs. Debbie R. Poole at the Lexington County School District One Board of Trustees meeting last week. Established by th Foundation in 2005, this foundation award recognizes an outstanding and deserving administrator in the district, while also honoring an esteemed administrator from the original Lexington School District One staff of 1952, the late Mr. Joseph M Bedenbaugh.

Bedenbaugh worked in the district for 36 years serving as a seventh grade math teacher, principal and assistant superintendent for personnel and federal programs. He was also a World War II veteran who served in the United States Air Force. The Educational Foundation honors Mr. Bedenbaugh annually as its leadership presents the award to a contemporary administrator at the end of each school year.

Mrs. Poole currently serves as the Principal of Pelion Elementary School. She has exhibited an outstanding commitment to excellence in education in Lexington County School District One for almost 20 years. She began her teaching career in 1989 in Aiken County at Monetta Elementary. She joined the Lexington District 1 family in 2001 as a teacher at Oak Grove Elementary. In 2008, Mrs. Poole was promoted to Assistant Principal at New Providence Elementary and then was promoted and became the school’s Principal in 2015.

In 2018, Mrs. Poole moved to become Principal at Pelion Elementary where she has embraced and uplifted the entire school family. Colleagues shared countless kind words about Mrs. Poole in the Joseph M. Bedenbaugh Administrator of the Year Award nomination packet that was submitted to the Lexington One Educational Foundation. Individuals described her as a principal who sincerely loves the students and learning; demonstrates patience and kindness; genuinely cares for teachers, staff and students; balance personal fun and serious sides at work; meets the emotional and physical needs of her students; and is a great listener who is committed to educating students with a strategic vision in place. Mrs. Poole is also a leader inside and outside of the school and district, as is evidenced by a food drive she lead to support her school families in need during the covid-19 pandemic. She personally made home visits to deliver food to PES students and their families and was also instrumental in securing a therapy dog, Ren, to support the PES students.