Conway Finalizes Superintendent Candidates for Horry County Schools

Diverse group of educators in collaborative discussion setting.

Conway Finalizes Superintendent Candidates for Horry County Schools

CONWAY – The Horry County Board of Education announced on December 9th that it has selected three finalists in the search for the next superintendent of Horry County Schools (HCS). This follows a comprehensive six-month search that began after former superintendent Rick Maxey’s retirement earlier this year.

Who Are the Finalists?

The three candidates are all experienced administrators from different states. The finalists include:

Jonathan Crossley – Currently serving as the superintendent of the Hope School District in Hope, Arkansas.
Clifford Jones – Chief of staff for Fulton County Schools in Fulton, Georgia.
Michael Thorsland – Superintendent of Oconee County School District in Walhalla, South Carolina, the only candidate currently working in the state.

Public Engagement Opportunities

According to Board Chairman David Cox, each of the candidates will spend time in the district visiting schools and engaging with the community. A meet and greet event is scheduled for the evening of December 10th at Ocean Bay Middle School, where the public is invited to interact with the candidates.

The schedule for the meet and greet is as follows:

Clifford Jones: 4 PM – 5 PM
Michael Thorsland: 5 PM – 6 PM
Jonathan Crossley: 6 PM – 7 PM

Next Steps in the Selection Process

Following the meet and greet, the school board will hold a second round of interviews in an executive session on December 11th at 2 PM to further assess the finalists.

A Look at the Finalists’ Backgrounds

Jonathan Crossley, a South Carolina native, earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of South Carolina and a doctorate in educational leadership from Arkansas Tech University. His career highlights include being named Arkansas Teacher of the Year in 2014 and serving as a principal and assistant superintendent before taking his current role in 2021.

Clifford Jones has dedicated 23 years to Fulton County Schools, starting as a social studies teacher in 2001. He has also worked as a principal and in district roles since 2015. With three master’s degrees in various fields, Jones has held his chief of staff position since 2023.

Michael Thorsland brings extensive experience with a 31-year career in education. He began as a math teacher and has held multiple roles including assistant principal, principal, and now superintendent since 2014. Thorsland holds a master’s degree in educational administration and a doctorate in educational leadership.

Context of the Search

The search for a new superintendent was initiated after Rick Maxey retired on June 30, three years prior to the end of his contract. Eddie Ingram, former Berkeley County superintendent, was appointed as interim superintendent on May 15 and has indicated he does not seek the position permanently.

The school board retained BWP & Associates, a firm specializing in education leadership recruitment, to assist in narrowing down suitable candidates for the position. Horry County Schools is the third-largest school district in South Carolina, serving over 48,000 students and employing approximately 6,300 staff members, including more than 3,000 educators.