A native of the Lowcountry, LaCarma McMillan knew she wanted to be a teacher since she was in fifth grade. Her teacher that year at St. James-Santee Elementary School (now St. James-Santee Elementary-Middle School), where she is now the principal, was Mrs. Randolph. McMillan said she cared for and nurtured her scholars so well that she was encouraged to be just like her. Fast forward to high school at Lincoln in McClellanville, McMillan was part of the first Teacher Cadet program there, led by Barbara Singleton. It was a full-circle moment for her to be a teacher cadet in the elementary school where her passion was first ignited.
After graduating from South Carolina State University, McMillan worked in Richland and Orangeburg Counties before returning to Charleston in 2005 as an assistant principal at the former Brentwood Middle School; then transitioned to an assistant principal at West Ashley Middle. In 2011, she was offered the principal position at the former West Ashley Middle School.
Leaving the classroom was a tough choice, but McMillan wanted an opportunity to work side by side with strong leaders…