Rock Hill Schools Welcomes Nearly 100 New Certified Educators During

“Learning to Rock” Orientation

ROCK HILL, SC – Rock Hill Schools is excited to welcome around 100 new certified educators to the district during its annual Learning to Rock orientation, taking place Wednesday, July 23 and Thursday, July 24 at Castle Heights Middle School.

This two-day event is designed to prepare newly hired educators for a successful start to the school year through collaboration, professional development, and connection to the Rock Hill community.

“This is always a special time of year as we welcome new teachers and returning educators who have chosen Rock Hill Schools,” said Superintendent Dr. Deborah Elder. “Our Learning to Rock program is just one of the ways we invest in our educators from day one.”

Why Rock Hill Schools? Some educators shared, “I wanted to help impact students in the district where I was educated,” and another said, “The pay is better, and it seemed much more involved in the community than other districts.” Rock Hill’s pay is $52,000 for new hires, the highest for starting teachers in York Co. Plus, 98% of our teaching positions are filled & 100% of bus routes are covered.

Meet Our 2025 New Hires:

• Approximately 100 certified educators will join Rock Hill Schools this year.
• 7 educators are returning to Rock Hill Schools after previously serving in the district.
• More than half bring multiple years of teaching experience to their new roles.
• 14 new hires are proud graduates of Rock Hill Schools high schools.
• 7 certified educators are transitioning from support roles into certified teaching positions through our Grow Your Own initiative and partnerships with the South Carolina Department of Education’s alternative certification pathways.

Rock Hill Schools remains committed to supporting every educator’s success. Through Learning to Rock and ongoing professional development, our district continues to build a strong foundation for teaching and learning. Please join us in welcoming this outstanding new group of educators to the Rock Hill Schools family!