October 25, 2025

Ellen Weaver Launches Re-Election Campaign for Education

News Summary

Ellen Weaver has officially launched her re-election campaign as South Carolina Superintendent of Education, focusing on improving the state’s educational landscape.

Columbia, South Carolina –

Ellen Weaver has officially launched her re-election campaign as South Carolina Superintendent of Education. Announced on Monday, Weaver, who assumed office in 2023, aims to build upon her promises and enhance the state’s educational landscape for students, teachers, and parents.

Weaver has a strong focus on her record of accomplishments since taking office. Her campaign centers around the theme of “Hope in Action,” emphasizing a continued commitment to elevating South Carolina’s education system. Weaver has stated that South Carolina education is witnessing improvements and has pledged to implement strategies that will further uplift the educational standard across the state.

As part of her campaign, Weaver identified four key areas she intends to focus on during her next term: advancing the Palmetto Math Project, expanding career pathways and apprenticeships, strengthening civics and character education, and increasing transparency for parents, teachers, and taxpayers. These initiatives are designed to create a more robust educational framework in South Carolina.

Education Reforms and Achievements

Under Weaver’s leadership, South Carolina has experienced significant educational reforms. Key aspects of her campaign include advocating for conservative education strategies, such as the largest teacher pay increase in the state’s history. Starting salaries for teachers have already risen by 20% since 2023 and are projected to reach $50,000 by 2026.

In addition, Weaver’s administration has made major investments in school safety, implemented nationwide leading policies that promote phone-free classrooms, and trained over 20,000 teachers in the Science of Reading. These measures are intended to enhance the overall learning environment and ensure better outcomes for students.

Weaver’s campaign highlights recent improvements in student performance, noting rises in reading and math scores across the state. In addition to academic advancements, there have also been improvements in school safety measures and paid parental leave for teachers. Furthermore, the reductions in bureaucratic red tape have led to decreased cell phone use in classrooms, the removal of explicit content from curriculums and libraries, and challenges to federal overreach in educational control.

Background and Experience

Ellen Weaver was elected as South Carolina’s 19th State Superintendent of Education on November 9, 2022. She has a strong educational background, having graduated from a public school in Greenville, South Carolina. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Bob Jones University.

Prior to her tenure as superintendent, Weaver worked in various capacities for Senator Jim DeMint for 12 years, ultimately serving as his state director. In 2013, she founded the Palmetto Promise Institute, a significant public policy organization in South Carolina that focuses on improving public services and educational reform.

As Ellen Weaver embarks on her re-election campaign, she is poised to leverage her experience and promote her record to ensure that South Carolina continues to progress in education. Her upcoming plans reflect a commitment to fostering a high-performing educational system designed to meet the needs of all stakeholders involved, including students, parents, and teachers.