The Mullennax family: James (husband); Macie, 13; KeeLe, 18; Ansley, 17; Brandy; and Alyssa, 11. Brandy joins Richard Winn Academy as head of school this fall.
WINNSBORO (July 21, 2016) – Slowly but surely, the clock is ticking down on summer, with the first day of the new school year rapidly approaching. When Richard Winn Academy opens its doors on the 2016-2017 school year, they will have a new pilot at the helm.
Brandy Mullennax, 43, of Lugoff, officially took office as RWA’s new head of school on June 1, continuing her lifelong career in education. She takes over for Dr. Henry Selby, who retired at the end of the 2015-2016 school year.
“At an early age, I knew I wanted to be an educator,” Mullennax said. “I’ve worked with children and young adults my entire career.”
Originally from the Sumter area, Mullennax earned her undergraduate degree from Coastal Carolina University in Conway before receiving her Master’s degree from Columbia College. Most recently, she served as principal at St. James Lutheran School in Sumter. Her transition to Richard Winn Academy, she said, has been a comfortable one.
“Everyone has been wonderful so far here at Richard Winn,” she said. “And it’s amazing how deep the roots of Richard Winn run in the community. Everyone I’ve met has some connection to the school.”
Mullennax comes to the Eagles’ Nest at a time of great activity.
The school plans to begin construction in August on a new Early Learning Center, she said, which will serve children up to the age of 36 months. RWA is also undergoing a renovation process, Mullennax said, to include roofing work, renovations to the rest rooms and some remodeling of the school’s Memorial Garden.
“A lot of it is cosmetic stuff,” Mullennax said, “to make the school a more inviting place.”
Mullennax said she also plans to launch her own initiative, the Eagle Care programs. Part of Eagle Care caters to recent graduates, assisting them as they continue their post-secondary education, while a second aspect of the program involves RWA students making a contribution through volunteer work to the Richard Winn community.
“We want to make sure our students learn to put others first,” Mullennax said, “through little acts of kindness. We want to teach them to have humility and to help others – and not just in Winnsboro, but in all the communities from which we have students; and that includes Blythewood and Chester.”
Richard Winn is also launching a competitive cheerleading team this year, Mullennax said, with this first season serving as a “foundation year,” and the team officially entering competitions next year. This comes on the heels of the fledgling archery team, while Mullennax said there is prospective interest in starting a trap shooting (skeet) team in the near future.
School begins at RWA on Aug. 11. Leading up to opening day, Mullennax said the school is hosting a back to school bash on Aug. 9 for the whole community.
