COLUMBIA — Kristin Maguire of Clemson will chair South Carolina’s State Board of Education in 2009.

Maguire is a gubernatorial appointee to the panel that’s charged with approving education standards taught in classrooms, what textbooks are used and how teachers are certified, among other duties.

Trained as an engineer, Maguire has been a member of the South Carolina Public Charter School Association’s advisory board and is a co-founder of South Carolina Parents Involved in Education, a grassroots organization committed to public school excellence through parental involvement.

She is succeeding Lancaster resident Al Simpson, State Board chair for 2008.

"Chairman Simpson has done a tremendous job in focusing the board on policies that will result in more South Carolina students completing high school,” Maguire said. “I'm excited to build on that teamwork as we take action on recommendations from the South Carolina Math Panel, work on the Palmetto Assessment of State Standards and support flexibility, innovation and excellence in public education.

"Our students are facing 21st Century challenges and the Board will continue to focus on policies that ensure that all children have opportunities to excel."

The state board’s new chair-elect is Snelling resident Tim Moore, who practices law in Barnwell. A past chairman of Barnwell County Council, Moore is a former elementary school principal and football coach at Blackville-Hilda High School. He’s also a past president of Barnwell District 45’s Parent Teacher Student Association.

"I look forward to working with Dr. Jim Rex and his talented team at the State Department of Education to meet the challenges facing our public schools in South Carolina,” Moore said. “We have thousands of dedicated teachers working to improve the lives of our public school students and we must find ways to give them the tools and flexibility they need to succeed."