Please join us for lunch!

For our meeting Monday, April 20th, 2026, we welcome 
Ellen E. Weaver, State Superintendent of Education. 

Ellen Weaver serves as South Carolina’s 19th State Superintendent of Education, elected in November 2022.

A Greenville native, Ellen has dedicated her career to championing educational excellence and expanding opportunity for every student in her home state. She believes deeply that a strong education is the gateway to the American Dream.

Ellen graduated from a great public school and earned her B.A. in Political Science, as well as a Master’s in Educational Leadership, from Bob Jones University.

After graduation, she worked in Senator Jim DeMint’s office for 12 years in a variety of roles, finishing her time as his State Director. She founded Palmetto Promise Institute, a leading state public policy organization, in 2013. As President of Palmetto Promise, she worked tirelessly to improve the lives of her fellow-South Carolinians, with a specialized focus on education policy.

Between her research at Palmetto Promise and her work as a member and chair of the SC Education Oversight Committee, Ellen’s deep experience in education policy in South Carolina gave her a relentless passion for ensuring every child the hope and freedom found in an excellent education.

Ellen is focused on prioritizing the instruction of foundational skills, recruiting and retaining the best educators, and partnering with parents — as well as business and other community leaders — to prepare students for their personal path to success.