Amanda J.

Darden is known for her strong and bubbly personality combined

with a high level of hard work and GRIT! Amanda obtained her teaching degree in

Physical and Health Education and her Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction,

both from Radford University in Virginia. Upon graduation, Darden coordinated

student services and advisement in the College of Visual and Performing Arts,

until her husband accepted a position at Coastal Carolina University in Conway,

SC in 2002. About the time they started a family, Darden became a stay at home

mom of 3 until 2011, when she accepted a position as academic advisor at Coastal

Carolina University in the College of Education. Through a high level of hard

work and determination, she became the director for two important education

centers within the College of Education. Darden is currently the Director of the

Center for Excellence, Academic Advising, and Student Services and the Director

for the CCU Teaching Fellows Program.

In her time at Coastal Carolina University, Darden has worked closely with

the Georgetown County District office to place both practicum students and interns

in the schools. This partnership has more than quadrupled the number of

placements over the past 3 years and provided the Georgetown schools increased

opportunities to hire some of the best CCU graduates. Darden helped develop the

Georgetown Residency Program, a new program that houses teacher candidates in

downtown Georgetown, where they live and work their placement in the
Georgetown area schools. This program attracts and incentivizes high quality

future teachers to live and teach in Georgetown County. In her dual role as

Director of the CCU Teaching Fellows, Darden is in a unique position to continue

new initiatives to recruit and retain highly qualified teacher leaders in the

Georgetown County School District.

Darden has emerged as a leader in teacher training in the State of South

Carolina. She currently serves as Board Chair for the Center for Recruitment,

Retention, and Advancement (CERRA), whose mission is Recruiting, Retaining,

and Advancing South Carolina Educators. CERRA offers an array of services and

programs that impact the recruitment, retention, and advancement of teachers from

middle school through their professional careers. CERRA’s services are designed

to support the mission and help public schools locate high quality educators to lead

classrooms. Darden also works closely with the SC State Department’s

Commission on Higher Education (CHE), and has experience in both policy and

procedures as related to public school education.

Darden has been married to her husband Gib, for 20 years, and they continue

to raise their 3 teenagers in Murrells Inlet. Their oldest, Maggie, 18, recently

enrolled in Dance Education at the University of South Carolina. Darden is

excited to serve, and welcomes the opportunity to advocate for the educational

needs of the students in Georgetown County.