Officer Elections

Congrats to the newly-elected SCCEC officers! 

Vice President: Michael Snipes

I began my career in special education in 2001 as a case worker for individuals with severe cognitive and behavior disabilities at Pine Grove School in Elgin, SC. In 2006 I moved with my wife, Kellie, to Houston, TX where I worked as a house supervisor for a residential treatment facility. In 2007 we returned to South Carolina where I accepted a position as an instructional assistant in Richland District Two while pursuing my master’s degree in special education. In 2011, after receiving my educator license, I began teaching at EL Wright Middle School as a moderate disabilities teacher. I remained at ELW until 2020 when I returned to my home school, Rice Creek Elementary and taught there for two more years. This year I moved to Pontiac Elementary School where all three of my children attend the Montessori Magnet and continue to teach students with moderate cognitive disabilities. In 2019 I received my M.Ed. in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina. Go Cocks!

In my professional capacity I have served as Department Chair at EL Wright for seven years. I have served on several committees at the State Department of Education, including the SCAlt pilot development committee, the SCAlt communication committee and the Educator Retention Committee. I was part of the ABLESC Secure Your Shot media campaign. I am a regular Professional Development presenter for Richland Two and have presented sessions at both the district and state level. In 2006, I accepted the position of Membership Chair on the Executive Board of the SC Council for Exceptional Children where I continue to serve.

I currently reside in Northeast Columbia with my wife, Kellie, and our three kids, Everett, August and Lilah. I have enjoyed serving the members of SCCEC for the past six years and watching as we grow as the state’s foremost advocate for individuals with exceptionalities and those that serve them. I look forward to many more years with SCCEC and would love the opportunity to serve as your Vice President in the upcoming year.

Treasurer: Olivia Enders

My name is Olivia Enders, and I am currently an Assistant Professor in Special Education at Coastal Carolina University in the department of Educational Studies. I received my PhD in 2022 from the University of Pittsburgh. My dissertation evaluated an intervention targeting behavioral fluency in algebra for students with disabilities. Prior to my PhD, I worked as a middle school learning support teacher in the Pittsburgh region. I also hold credentials as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). My research focuses broadly on improving teacher preparation - whether that be supporting the implementation of evidence-based practices in mathematics, or interrogating our disciplinary systems and mechanisms which perpetuate the inequitable exclusion of students with disabilities. I am passionate about strengthening the skills of both pre-service teacher candidates and teachers seeking additional training via graduate programs in South Carolina.    Other relevant experiences:  

• Representative (appointed), 2 years; First Inaugural Teaching Learning Leading Student Governance Committee (2020-2022). Appointed by Department Chair Sabina Vaught to organize students/create materials and disperse funds for students to improve graduate student outcomes. 
•  Colloquium Chairperson (elected) - 2 years, University of Pittsburgh Council of Graduate Students in Education (2020-2022). Served by creating 3-4 colloquium talks or panels for graduate students; coordinated events, invited speakers, and organized speaker fees/refreshments/etc. 
•  Graduate Student Representative of the Department of Teaching. Learning, & Leading (elected) - 1 year, University of Pittsburgh (2019-2020). 
•  Graduate Student Representative on the Academic Programs Committees (elected), 2 years (2019-2021)