JAMES B. EDWARDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Ransom Walters, Mt. Pleasant Police Department, James B. Edwards SRO ransom_walters.c@charleston.k12.sc.us Officer Ransom joined James B. Edwards in 2017. He loves being a part of the community and building relationships with all JBE families. School safety is his top priority. He also loves coaching our Egret Boys Basketball team, working with teachers and staff wherever they may need him and helping Mrs. Temoney with our Student Ambassadors.

Sarah Eckert, 3rd Grade teacher- sarah_eckert@charleston.k12.sc.us   Ms. Eckert grew up here in Mt. Pleasant. She attended Anderson University where she played volleyball and earned a degree in Elementary Education. After graduation, she spent three years teaching in Rock Hill, SC. When she moved to Mt. Pleasant in 2018, she joined the third grade team at James B Edwards. She absolutely loves teaching third grade! In her free time, she enjoys coaching volleyball, cooking, being outside and spending time with family.

 Karah Viola, Teacher - karah_viola@charleston.k12.sc.us Mrs. Viola grew up in Hoopeston, Illinois and earned a BS in Education at Eastern Illinois University. She began her teaching career, got married, and earned her Masters in Educational Counseling & Family Therapy in Las Vegas.  In 2008 Mrs. Viola moved to Greenville, SC and became the Director of College Guidance at a private school.  She joined the JBE family in 2015 and has two children who attend CCSD schools.

Chesnut Denton, Parent- chesnutdenton@gmail.com Chesnut was elected to the SIC in 2021. She has a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education and a Masters in Gifted Education (with a focus on underachievers). She is the CoOwner of Stono Logistics and MoveMo. She is a mentor at the College of Charleston for female athletes. She supports the staff and educators within our JBE community and carves out the time to assist them.  She believes the work that the SIC does directly affects the children of our school and in turn our community.  She firmly believes that we have the opportunity to make a difference for future generations with the well-rounded experience/education we offer at JBE.
Colleen Bridges, Parent- colleenkbridges@gmail.com Colleen was elected to the SIC in 2021. She is the director at CGI Federal and volunteers at as a Sunday School teacher at Seacoast Church, and as a greenhouse volunteer. She is an advocate for educational opportunities for all children aims to represent the majority of the parents' voices to support students, staff, and teachers. She is passionate about keeping our kids and teachers safe, healthy, and in school. She wants to ensure JBE children are not only well-educated but empathetic, kind, productive leaders in our community and help us continue to be the "best little school in the Lowcountry."

 Hunter has been in the field of education for over 15 years. He started his career as a high school math teacher at an international school in Buenos Aires, Argentina. After attending graduate school for public education policy, he has worked for public officials and with nonprofit initiatives that have provided students with new quality public school options. Hunter now serves as the Director of Finance for BES, a national nonprofit that provides leadership training for school leaders across the country.